Breaking! Agriprocessors, Rubashkin Child Labor Trial Postponed Until 2010

Hearing on status of case set for early January. Trial not likely until Spring 2010 – at the earliest.

Agriprocessors child labor trial delayed
JOHN MOLSEED • Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

WATERLOO — The former owner and managers of Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville --- accused of violating state child labor laws --- won’t stand trial on the charges until next year.

The case was initially scheduled to go to trial Aug. 4. Both sides, however, asked for more time which Judge Nate Callahan granted in a hearing Tuesday.

A trial date hasn’t been set but a hearing on the status of the case is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2010.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office last fall filed more than 9,000 charges against plant owner Abraham Aaron Rubashkin; former plant manager Sholom Rubashkin; human resources manager Elizabeth Billmeyer; and human resource employees Laura Althouse and Karina Freund. Prosecutors accuse the group of hiring minors and having children less than 16 years old handle dangerous equipment.

Callahan also denied Tuesday a request by defense attorneys to dismiss the charges.

A pool of 60 Black Hawk County jurors were polled Tuesday afternoon to determine whether an impartial jury can be found for the trial. The jurors were asked to fill out written questionaires which the attorneys in the case and Callahan will review. If the court finds an impartial jury can’t drawn from Black Hawk County, Callahan said he would consider either changing the venue of the trial or bringing in a jury from another county.

Agriprocessors child labor trial pushed off until 2010
By Lynda Waddington • Iowa Independent

State child labor charges against former owners and managers of a Postville meatpacking plant won’t be dimissed, but they also won’t be heard in court until next year.

The case, which had been scheduled to start next month, was delayed after Judge Nathan Callahan received requests from both prosecutors and defendants. A new date has not been set, but the groups are scheduled to come back before the judge on Jan. 6, 2010 for a status hearing.

Agriprocessors TowerIn September 2008, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office charged several persons affiliated with the Agriprocessors plant — the site of a massive immigration raid in May 2008 — with more than 9,000 counts of child labor law violations. Named in the state charges were A. Aaron Rubashkin (company founder and owner), Sholom Rubashkin (day-to-day chief executive officer), Elizabeth Billmeyer (director of human resources), Laura Althouse (human resources worker) and Karina Freund (human resources employee).

Nearly all of those facing these state charges have also been charged and/or faced federal immigration-related charges.

Comments

[concerned citizen]

Surprise, Surprise!!!!!! We knew this would happen. How is that SMR can go to New York or wherever he went recently and still owe property taxes. Couldn't he have used the money from that trip to pay his taxes. Also ( this a little off topic ), but to any Jewish person who may be reading this, PLEASE don't pass another motorist in a residential area, it's not safe and in fact it's ILLEGAL!!!!!!! It happened to me today!!!!

[sage]

It's not really bad news.

The most critical thing, a request from the RCF Attorney for the Judge to drop ALL of the charges was DENIED.

Patience is the name of the game, when dealing with the super low-life RCF.

They will get their just due.

[justice seeker]

Concerned Citizen, in Iowa you could pay SMR's property taxes and then collect a small amount of interest from him when/if they are paid. I wouldn't avise it though cause I think he is not an Iowan at heart!

[state of disgust]

How old is Aaron Rubashkin and what is the status of his health?

[wondering]

Has anyone checked into the background of the Friedman in-laws to see what connection there is to the RCF?

[lobbying4peace]

>>Also ( this a little off topic ), but to any Jewish person who may be reading this, PLEASE don't pass another motorist in a residential area, it's not safe and in fact it's ILLEGAL!!!!!!!

CC,

Is it only illegal if a Jewish person does it? If not, then you really should not have directed that comment only to Jews.

[WoolSilkCotton]

The Nation's Cushiest Prisons
(future sites for Rubashkin family reunions)

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/107340/the-nations-cushiest-prisons.html

How proud (oy vay) I feel that this is pointed out in Forbes' website:

"...Otisville ranks at the bottom of our list, but it's still got its upsides, especially for observant Jewish inmates; the prison boasts kosher food and regular access to a rabbi..."

Don't worry Lobbying4peace, soon you will be able to visit your hero, Sholom Mordecai, in Otisville.

[Concerned for the Postville area..]

lobbying4peace,
I agree with Concerned Citizen, the Jewish community needs to have a class on driving and jay walking within the town of Postville. I have seen numerous stop signs ran by the Jewish community and unending jay walking violations. They should be ticketed before some innocent driver hits these individuals. At nite when it's dark they are a hazard! Our town should enforce jay walking.

[AGRI-vated Angel]

[How old is Aaron Rubashkin and what is the status of his health?]

State of Disgust -

I believe Aaron is the same age as my father - 82 years young. Recently, when I inquired how his Grandfather was, Getzel responded 'He is well.' (I guess we'll have to go with that.) I have not seen him in a very long while.

[AGRI-vated Angel]

Sadly, the Postville community will never overcome the stigma attached to the failed processing facility-a direct result of continuous, 'new developments' regarding trial strategies.

The facility will NEVER survive the wretched past (if people are forced to revisit this tragedy for years on end). The trials/strategies serve as a constant reminder of a most horrific memory/ experience . . . one which most townspeople would like to leave behind . . . for the good of all.

It is time to grow from what we have learned. It is time to put what we've learned into perspective. It is time to prosper anew with our dignity restored.

[concerned citizen]

Thanks to the posters that echoed my feelings on the jewish drivers. I have not seen or heard of anyone complaning about any "other" drivers doing this. Don't want cause a fuss, but I'm just stating what happened.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Secular laws don't apply to the black hatted Jews. You cannot convince them otherwise.

[sage]

Hi CC,

One of the unfortunate results from the RCF Scandals, is, that many well meaning gentiles, who have had proper respect for Jews, are now beginning to re-evaluate their feelings.

To help counteract this trend, after the RCF is convicted and incarcerated, my wife and I are going to go to Postville and meet with the Church Leaders and attempt to hold a meeting with the Postville folks, first, to thank G-d for seeing that true justice was done and telling the folks that the RCF criminal activities were a desecration of G-d's Name and that the majority of American Jews hold the RCF in utter contempt.

[AGRI-vated Angel]

[after the RCF is convicted and incarcerated, my wife and I are going to go to Postville]

Sage-

. . . and you (your family) is most welcome.

Please note~

I still believe you would be a 'valuable asset' within the Postville community . . . if only you would relocate to Iowa. I maintain - Mayor 'Sage' has a nice 'ring' to it.

[AGRI-vated Angel]

CC-

A few short years ago, when they redid the streets downtown, the alley behind the Post Office was temporarily 'one-way' in an effort to compensate potential traffic flow problems. One morning, I experienced a woman, I knew to be Jewish, who shook her finger at me angrily as she met me. She was barreling down the alley, heading in the wrong direction.

LOL :)

[MisterApikoros]

"She was barreling down the alley, heading in the wrong direction."

Maybe some of these Jews from Postville missed their calling. They ought to be working the NASCAR circuit. If we had some good 'ol boychiks along with the traditional good ol' boys, I might become a fan.

[sage]

+++ I still believe you would be a 'valuable asset' within the Postville community . . . if only you would relocate to Iowa. I maintain - Mayor 'Sage' has a nice 'ring' to it.

Posted by: AGRI-vated Angel | July 15, 2009 at 07:46 AM +++

Your kind offer is most appreciated, but work and family obligations are going to keep me where I am.

However, once the RCF is no longer a threat, the good folks of Postville need to consider electing a new Mayor and City Council, free of anyone who had supported the RCF in the past.

[JOHN kITTLESON]

The many years saga of Hasidic Jews violating the law and abusing credit and ethics and mistreating workers has been a heavy burden for the citizens of Postville to endure. Now the city is stuck with a 4 milion dollar bond repayment for the waste water treatment plant tha twas built on Agriprocessors plant. The city has also paid milions of dollars in fines and lawyer fees because of Rubaskins' lawless and reckless behvior. We hope to be rid of this curse but time wilo tellif the new buyers are any better.
Aposle Paul put it well when he said"They have a form of religin but deny the real menaing of Godly bhavior by their actions."
An indignant long-time resident of Postville
An indignant long-time resident of Postviole

[sage]

Hi JK,

Paul hit the nail right on the head, and his words perfectly describe the RCF.

I'm not sure, legally, if a portion of the fines levied in the upcoming Federal and Iowa Trials can be used to invest in building up Postville's future.

As for any new buyer of Agri, we have heard on this blog, that citizens of Postville have formed a special committee, to keep any future Agri honest.

[Hometown Postville]

Sage- you are very insightful. This is the kind of communication that is needed to begin the healing. You are absolutely right "...many well meaning gentiles, who have had proper respect for Jews, are now beginning to re-evaluate their feelings." I'm afraid too many have assumed that all Jews are like SMR. The people of Postville have been burned so badly that they are suspicious of any outsider. Unfortunately, a group is often judged by the actions of a few, however, I think this feeling extends to all the groups who have moved into the area in recent years because they all represent a reminder of Agri's presence. In the beginning, there were efforts to welcome newcomers, but in a small town, when you walk with your head down and don't acknowledge a friendly midwest one-finger greeting (index not middle)you are going to get labled as arrogant. When you let your lawn get as long as a hayfield before mowing or treat your house as a slum, you will get talked about- it's one of those small-town pride things. Subtance abuse by some of the Agri workers resulted in more criminal activity than Postville has seen in a century. It used to be a town where people didn't have to lock their doors. When busloads of homeless people are dumped on a town already stressed by demands on it's volunteer/donation based social assistance, pressure builds. I'm sure a big concern is what plans everyone has in the event that Agri does not re-open. Many are wondering what will motivate the Jewish population to stick around. Perhaps a blog could serve to unite people in all groups as a venue to brainstorm and educate each other about customs, beliefs, and norms. People may be more likely to get to the heart of matters in a semi-anonymous setting. Of course with the current atmosphere, it would have to be very carefully moderated with expectations firmly laid out. I know Failedmessiah has been extremely helpful in broadening my own outlook on Judaism and I would like to extend the invitation to others to do the same. And in the words of Agri-vated Angel: "It is time to grow from what we have learned. It is time to put what we've learned into perspective. It is time to prosper anew with our dignity restored." (I also like the sounds of Mayor or even Councilman Sage!)

[sage]

Unless all of the the Lubav Jews in Postville have a major permanent change in their ingrained and un-Biblical mindset, that gentile souls are defficient from birth, they have no future in being part of a re-built Postville.

The chances for this occuring, IMHO, is zero.

[michael ben drosai]

So sage, why don't you run for mayor and then outlaw the Tanya in Postville? (You seem to have a least three votes). Constitutional niceties never got between you and anything.
Plus it's comforting to know that you will be bridging the gap and healing the wounded souls by quoting the Gospels. Perhaps you yourself have an "ingrained mindset" that you're not sharing with us.

[sage]

Shmarya,

Please, very respectfully, consider banning the previous poster.

[neighbor girl]

Agriprocessor's sale faces objections at hearing
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090715/BUSINESS/707159934/1001/NEWS

[sage]

Hi NG,

Thanks for the update!!!

It seems that SHF is hiding something.

The least they could have done, was to disclose the true identity of the owners.

[concerned citizen]

The sale is not meant to be. Let's just close the darn place and be done with it.

[sage]

Hi CC,

I tend to agree with you.

[State of Postville III]

Ads are in the P'ville Herald and Waukon shopper for truck drivers. They are needed to pick up poultry, but interestingly the company name is now "Agrico." Is this the new name? Also, know someone who started work there for $9/hr and was given a dollar raise within a three-week period which is a step up from the past.

[State of Postville III]

Is the plant now named Agrico as there are ads in the P'ville Herald and Waukon shopper for truck drivers. Did anyone watch Saving Grace on TNT last night? It was quite interesting as there was a Hasidic Jew shot and killed and dead cattle who were at the processing plant named "Aaron's". This program is set in Oklahoma. Anyways, they were less than sympathetic towards the Hasidics and portrayed them as very secretive and overbearing. It ended up that the elder Hasidic had shot the other one and had something to do with "inspection" of the food product regarding the meat being "kosher." Very interesting.

[AGRI-vated Angel]

[Agrico]

. . . and where did they scavenge the $ $ $ $ $ to purchase &/or repair the dilapidated fleet of Agri rigs ? ? ? ? ?

[Shmarya]

Agriprocessor's sale faces objections at hearing
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090715/BUSINESS/707159934/1001/NEWS

Posted by: neighbor girl | July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Hi NG,

Thanks for the update!!!

It seems that SHF is hiding something.

The least they could have done, was to disclose the true identity of the owners.

This is all routine.

The statement Sarachek referred to is for the US Attorney – not necessarily for creditors.

It is the US Attorney who needs to be satisfied that there is no connection to Rubashkin. That is the condition he imposed rather than move for forfeiture.

And the NLRB object is absolutely meaningless.