By Associated Press
Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) Closing arguments in the state of Oklahoma's federal pollution lawsuit against the Arkansas poultry industry have been postponed a week after the judge became ill.
U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell has presided over the 51-day trial that has taken four months. He was set to hear the arguments Thursday morning.
Instead, closing arguments will be Feb. 18.
Oklahoma is suing 11 poultry companies, claiming they've polluted a pristine watershed with tons of chicken litter the feathers, droppings and bedding left in barns after birds are taken to slaughter.
The industry claims farmers broke no laws when they used the litter on their land as cheap fertilizer to grow other crops. They say Oklahoma has failed to produce any evidence that the waste poses a threat to humans or the environment.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.