MADISON — The Wisconsin Farm Bureau is extremely happy with the outcome of a long court battle involving a Sawyer County cranberry grower who was sued by neighboring out-of-state lake property owners who objected to his farming practices and challenged the state’s Right to Farm Law.
At today’s hearing, Bayfield County Circuit Court Judge John Anderson awarded $549,000 to pay cranberry grower William Zawistowski’s legal fees. The Rural Mutual Insurance Company defended Zawistowski throughout the lawsuit and paid his legal fees and costs.
“We could not be happier with how today’s award closed the book on a drawn-out and unnecessary legal attack on a Wisconsin farmer and protects our right to farm. This is certainly a great day for Wisconsin agriculture,” said Bill Bruins, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
“The awarding of these fees sends a loud and clear message that law-abiding Wisconsin farmers have protection from frivolous lawsuits under our state’s Right to Farm Law,” Bruins said. “This law continues to be vital to maintaining our state’s vibrant $51 billion agriculture industry.”
“We are very pleased that Mr. Zawistowski will receive full payment for his legal fees as provided by the Right to Farm Law,” Bruins said.
“This multi-year case has had historic implications to all of Wisconsin’s diverse $51 billion agriculture industry, and I am very proud that the Farm Bureau, other ag organizations and Rural Mutual Insurance Company have stood behind the Zawistowski cranberry operation throughout this long ordeal,” Bruins said.
Zawistowski, a second-generation cranberry grower, was unsuccessfully sued by his out-of-state landowner neighbors who brought a nuisance lawsuit against his cranberry operation. The owners of recreational properties on Musky Bay alleged that lawfully applied phosphorus to the Zawistowski cranberry bogs was the cause of algae and weed growth in Musky Bay, and that it created a nuisance. Zawistowski had never been cited with breaking any laws or rules, and the judge ruled that his farming operation was not a nuisance.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau led a coalition of ag groups in filing amicus briefs in defense of Zawistowski and the state’s Right to Farm law.
