Testimony Comes To Halt In Poultry Litter Case

JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma's federal pollution trial against the Arkansas poultry industry ground to an unexpected halt Tuesday afternoon, as attorneys for the companies challenged the credentials of one of the state's expert witnesses.

Oklahoma attorneys also drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell, who became angered that the state waited until Tuesday — more than four years after the lawsuit was filed — to specify what the witness would be testifying about.

A scowling Frizzell halted testimony for at least 10 minutes at one point while he addressed the attorneys at the bench.

About eight or nine lawyers huddled around the judge — a few more milled around within earshot — engaging in what appeared to be a heated conversation. White noise was piped into the courtroom to muffle their voices.

Shanon Phillips, the state's water quality director, was to testify about potential sources of pollution in the Illinois River watershed, including poultry litter — or the droppings, feathers and bedding — farmers in northeastern Oklahoma have used for decades as a cheap fertilizer to grow other crops.