Mathie faces nine civil suits; judgments sought near $3.7M

By CAROL RYAN DUMAS

Capital Press

With two Twin Falls County dairies joining the ranks of parties filing lawsuits against hay broker Jeffrey Mathie, 43, and Mathie Alfalfa Co., judgments sought against the Blackfoot, Idaho, hay dealer now approach $3.7 million.

Dumex Dairy, doing business as Legacy Dairy, Twin Falls County, seeks almost $1.073 million, including attorney fees, on 27 counts of breach of contract, fraud and conversion, according to court documents. In a complaint filed May 27 the lawsuit addresses alleged oral contracts between the parties from May 2008 to December 2010.

G&H Dairy, Twin Falls County, seeks almost $88,500, including attorney fees, on 16 counts of breach of contract, fraud and conversion in a complaint filed April 27. The lawsuit addresses alleged oral contracts between the parties from April 2008 to November 2010.

Both dairies seek damages for non-delivery of straw, feeder hay and dairy hay and the cost to cover the non-delivered hay at a higher price. In addition to receiving only partial delivery of the straw and hay, the dairies also allege the dairy hay delivered was not the quality contracted, and are seeking damages for reduced milk production. They also allege Mathie knew he would not deliver the hay when entering into agreements and allege the non-delivered hay was sold to an unknown third party.

Mathie declined comment.

Both dairies are represented by attorney Rob Williams, Jerome, who is also representing Box Canyon Dairy in its earlier reported lawsuit against Mathie seeking nearly $1 million.

Mathie is now facing nine civil suits and one criminal complaint in Twin Falls, Gooding, Bingham, Jefferson, Jerome, Madison and Butte counties. The latest complaint was filed June 1 by Williams representing Healthy Earth Enterprises in Jerome, a compost manufacturer.

Another civil suit in Bingham County has been closed, with a judgment of $4,539.65 awarded to the plaintiffs.

One victim named in the criminal case, Brent Steffler, Firth, has been paid the almost $50,000 Mathie owed him, said Steffler's wife, Rhonda Steffler.

The case is still pending, however.

As reported May 27 in Capital Press, Twin Falls County Sheriff's Department has reported turning over its investigation of Mathie's dealing in Canada and six states to the FBI. An FBI spokesman would neither confirm nor deny it is working on a case.

Online

Idaho court repository: www.idcourts.us