Workers settle suit

Posted: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 8:00 pm

NEWPORT (AP) — A Cocke County tomato grower has settled a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by 14 Mexican nationals.
The Citizen Tribune (http://bit.ly/11Ne5R6) reported Fish Farms Inc. will pay $390,000 to settle the lawsuit under the agreement.
Fish Farms attorney Jay W. Mader declined comment. He also represents named defendants Jimmy Carroll Fish, Walter Jackson Fish and Christine Fish Gilliam.
Southern Migrant Legal Services attorney Caitlan Berberich confirmed the settlement amount, which was detailed in a proposal filed in federal court in Greeneville.
The plaintiffs said they were assigned substandard trailers, some without running water. They also claimed they were exposed to poisonous pesticides and deported after they complained to farm managers.
The plaintiffs will receive between $6,000 and, in one case, $40,000.
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Information from: Citizen Tribune, http://www.citizentribune.com

Published in The Messenger 4.2.13