Why These Farmers Are Headed To WA Supreme Court

About this episode

Farmers Ron and Robin Fode discuss their legal battle against the Washington State Department of Ecology over a significant fine and its implications for their family farm.

Without following its own rules, the state of Washington nearly a decade ago fined a Moses Lake-area family crop farm more than a half-million dollars over a water technicality and arbitrary missed deadline. Although it’s cost them most of their farm and almost put them out of business, the the farmers wrongly targeted by the Washington State Department of Ecology have fought back, and now their case will officially go to the highest court in the state. Ron and Robin Fode, along with attorney Luke Wake of the Pacific Legal Foundation, join Dillon to explain how they were able to get their appeal accepted to be heard by the Supreme Court of Washington, and just what’s at stake for not only their family, but everyone in the state.

People in this episode

Host: Dillon

Guests: Ron Fode, Robin Fode, Luke Wake

Topics covered

• legal battle
• water rights
• farming
• Supreme Court
• Washington State
• family business

Keywords

• Washington
• farming
• Supreme Court
• water rights
• legal appeal
• family farm
• Moses Lake
• Department of Ecology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pacific Legal Foundation, Washington State Department of Ecology

Places: Washington, Moses Lake

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