Brickbat: Move Along

Joe Ravi / Dreamstime

After Bart Riley, owner of Montana's Riley Meats, confronted a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector about trying to force requirements on his business that were not in federal regulations, the inspector sought revenge. According to those who worked for Jeffrey Legg, he told them he wanted them to issue one compliance order per day at Riley Meats. Riley filed an official complaint about his treatment, and after more than two years, the USDA upheld six of his complaints and found another eight, according to a local newspaper, "partially confirmed or possibly true." But the agency took no action against Legg.

Comments

[Telcontar the Wanderer]

"But you kept telling me to 'Legg it'! I thought we had some kind of office meme going..."

[John C. Randolph]

Sue the motherfucker personally.

-jcr

[loveconstitution1789]

Yup. What the USDA employee did was bullshit.

I am so glad that someone got to the meat of the matter.

[PS]

Sue him. He has a Legg to stand on.

[Radioactive]

cut his legg right out from under him...

[Cyto]

Yet another example of allowing an agency to police themselves. After reading the article, it is kinda difficult to conclude that the agency doesn't have an agenda to close all those small processors.

I was surprised that the article just ended with "and nobody will answer our questions". I expected the story to turn toward his mutli-million dollar lawsuit at some point.

This is an amazingly long-lived dispute. After the years-long events documented in the story come to a whimpering close, there's this:

Over the next decade, Riley would file at least four more formal complaints against Legg. This belated response to the first complaint would be the most favorable one he would ever receive. At least two complaints received no response at all.

Another decade? Jeez...

[Fist of Etiquette]

His feelings were hurt. Can't anyone understand that?

[Libertarian]

"But the agency took no action against Legg."

I've worked for Uncle Sam. It's almost impossible to fire someone, and "discipline" often means a transfer to a do-nothing job. Harsh punishment.

[Longtobefree]

RICO

[Conchfritters]

What a fucking asshole.

[dantheserene]

Tell me again why some people don't want the fed gov in charge of healthcare (or anything else)?

[loveconstitution1789]

Example #1: VA healthcare system

[dantheserene]

1789-
Their motto: "YOU get a bonus and YOU get a bonus..."

[loveconstitution1789]

Then they give some of that bonus money to Democrat politicians. Scratching backs and all that.

[What about Sloopy's mom?]

Plant owners heard through the grapevine that Legg had been sent to Montana by FSIS brass to get as many small operations off of federal inspection as possible.

[?]

For Riley's operation, though, federal inspection is critical to his business model. Riley sells to restaurants and other clients across state lines ? which can't be done without federal inspection.

Riley's company is probably not the only one. This action by FSIS seems to benefit one group ? big meat companies who have less competition.

[generalisimo14]

friggin meat gazers

[Writer]

Why can't they sue him?! What's wrong with it? 8 unanswered requests..