Minnesota hog farm sued in death of worker

EYOTA, Minn. — The widow of a worker who died last year at a Minnesota hog farm has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the operation.

Yesenia Sevilla (yeh-SEEN’-ee-ah sev-IL’-ah) says in her lawsuit filed in Olmsted County District Court that Schoenfelder Farms failed to leave fans on in the barn to clear methane gas. Carlos Ramierez-Perez died Feb. 17, 2010 while cleaning the barn in Eyota.

The complaint says the Eyota Fire Department took air quality samples of the hog barn the day Ramierez-Perez died and determined there was a high level of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in the barn.

The Post-Bulletin says Sevilla is seeking damages in excess of $50,000. Schoenfelder Farms did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Tags: livestock, agribusiness, hogs, minnesota, agriculture