Antognoli
Schoemaker
Attorney David Antognoli has asked for leave to withdraw from representing the owners of a Highland dairy farm in its suit against Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. over a milk marketing agreement.
Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla is set to hear the plea June 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Antognoli currently represents Michael and Denise Richter, owners of Rich-Lane Farms.
According to May 12 motion for leave to withdraw, Antognoli and his clients have developed "a divergence of views" that he claims makes it impossible for him to continue as the Richters' lawyer.
The Richters are seeking damages in excess of $50,000, attorney's fees and costs in the 2006 suit against Prairie Farms.
The Richters claim that after improving their dairy and buying stock in Prairie Farms as part of a milk marketing agreement, the defendant terminated that agreement in 2005 and "acted in a manner illegal or oppressive" to the plaintiffs as Prairie Farms shareholders.
Prairie Farms filed a motion earlier this month asking Hylla to compel the plaintiffs to produce records of their lost profits and income or to bar the Richters from using that information in their case.
That move remains pending.
The case was previously assigned to now-retired Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack. Stack bowed out of the case.
Donald Schoemaker, Laura Hayden and others represent Prairie Farms.
The case is Madison case number 06-L-892.