Trio sues frozen food firm
Toolbox
Associated Press
Times Argus Staff
Associated Press - Published: January 8, 2009
BURLINGTON — Three Vermont convicts are suing ConAgra Foods Inc. over a box of frozen chicken they bought and ate in prison, claiming it contained entrails and other "vile" material that made them sick. The two former and one current inmate, including a double murderer, are seeking $100,000 to $500,000 in damages in the lawsuit, which was filed in January of 2006.
A one-day trial in federal court is planned for Thursday.
ConAgra of Omaha, Neb., denies any wrongdoing and says its product could have been tampered with.
Former prisoners Christopher Butts and Corydon Cochran and inmate Henry "Hank" Butson are serving as their own attorneys.
Wind company shuts doors in Rutland
Associated Press
RUTLAND — A company working to install a wind-power project on Grandpa's Knob in Castleton is closing its Rutland office.
Brad King, Noble Environmental's local project manager, says the company has not given up plans for the wind farm and will continue to gather data from meteorological towers installed on the ridge last year.
In October, the Connecticut company laid off workers in New York and stopped work at two wind farms in that state in conection with the failure of Lehman Brothers, one of its chief backers.
Noble's CEO Walter Howard released a brief statement Monday saying the poor economic outlook prevents the company from speculating on its 2009 development plans, but says it will continue to evaluate the financial markets and the Grandpa's Knob project.
Bennington manufacturer lays off 28
Associated Press
BENNINGTON — A second Bennington manufacturer is laying off workers, citing a slowdown in aerospace industry work.
Vermont Composites, which makes carbon fiber parts for commercial and military aircraft, laid off 28 employees Monday.
Company president Patrick Wheeler expects a 15 to 20 percent decline in its aerospace division during the first four to six months of 2009, but that business is expected to pick up around July, when a new project starts.
Bennington auto parts manufacturer NSK Steering Systems America laid off 71 workers Dec. 19.
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