PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A $2.1 million bankruptcy trial against a failed beef packing plant in Aberdeen is expected to last through the rest of week. The plaintiff is a Huron contractor that did dirt work for Northern Beef Packers seven years ago.
Court documents show Scott Olson Digging Inc. submitted invoices for more than $5 million. The beef plant argues the amount is too high.
Northern Beef Packers filed for bankruptcy last summer because it lacked money to buy cattle for slaughter. The company declared $138.8 million in liabilities and $79.3 million in assets.
A San Francisco-based investment banking firm earlier this year bought the plant after holding the top bid in a sale. The firm submitted a $44.35 million bid in December, but it wouldn’t disclose the final cost of the purchase.