THIS FILING SUBMITTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
BEFORE THE ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
VERNON and ELAINE ZOHFELD,
)
)
Complainants,
)
)
vs.
)
PCB No. 05-193
)
(Citizen’s Enforcement, Air)
BOB DRAKE, WABASH VALLEY
)
SERVICE COMPANY, MICHAEL J.
)
PFISTER, NOAH D. HORTON, and
)
STEVE KINDER,
)
)
Respondents.
)
NOTICE OF FILING
TO:
Ms. Dorothy M. Gunn
Carol Webb, Esq.
Clerk of the Board
Hearing Officer
Illinois Pollution Control Board
Illinois Pollution Control Board
100 West Randolph Street
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Suite 11-500
Post Office Box 19274
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9274
(VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL)
(VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL)
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that I have today filed with the Office of the Clerk of the
Illinois Pollution Control Board
STEVE KINDER’S ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE
DEFENSES TO COMPLAINANTS’ COMPLAINT
on behalf of Respondents, Wabash Valley
Service Company, Michael J. Pfister, Noah D. Horton and Steve Kinder, a copy of which is
herewith served upon you.
Respectfully submitted,
WABASH VALLEY SERVICE COMPANY,
MICHAEL J. PFISTER, NOAH D. HORTON,
and STEVE KINDER,
Respondents,
Dated: March 24, 2006
By:/s/ Thomas G. Safley
One of Their Attorneys
Thomas G. Safley
Gale W. Newton
HODGE DWYER ZEMAN
3150 Roland Avenue
Post Office Box 5776
Springfield, Illinois 62705-5776
(217) 523-4900
ELECTRONIC FILING, RECEIVED, CLERK'S OFFICE, MARCH 24, 2006
2
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Thomas G. Safley, the undersigned, certify that I have served the attached
STEVE KINDER’S ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO
COMPLAINANTS’ COMPLAINT upon:
Ms. Dorothy M. Gunn
Clerk of the Board
Illinois Pollution Control Board
100 West Randolph Street
Suite 11-500
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Carol Webb, Esq.
Hearing Officer
Illinois Pollution Control Board
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Post Office Box 19274
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9274
via electronic mail on March 24, 2006, and upon:
Stephen F. Hedinger, Esq.
Hedinger Law Office
2601 South Fifth Street
Springfield, Illinois 62703
Thomas H. Bryan, Esq.
Fine & Hatfield, P.C.
520 N.W. Second Street
Post Office Box 779
Evansville, Indiana 47705-0779
by depositing said documents in the United States Mail in Springfield, Illinois, postage
prepaid, on March 24, 2006.
/s/ Thomas G. Safley
Thomas G. Safley
WVSC:002/Fil/NOF-COS – Steve Kinder’s Answer
ELECTRONIC FILING, RECEIVED, CLERK'S OFFICE, MARCH 24, 2006
BEFORE THE ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
VERNON and ELAINE ZOHFELD,
)
)
Complainants,
)
)
vs.
)
PCB No. 05-193
)
(Citizen’s Enforcement, Air)
BOB DRAKE, WABASH VALLEY
)
SERVICE COMPANY, MICHAEL J.
)
PFISTER, NOAH D. HORTON, and
)
STEVE KINDER,
)
)
Respondents.
)
STEVE KINDER’S ANSWER AND
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO COMPLAINANTS’ COMPLAINT
NOW COMES Respondent STEVE KINDER (“Kinder”), by and through his
attorneys, HODGE DWYER ZEMAN, and hereby files his Answer and Affirmative
Defenses to Complainants’ Complaint in this matter stating as follows:
1.
Paragraph 1 of Complainants’ Complaint states a legal conclusion to
which no response is required. To the extent that paragraph 1 states any factual
allegations, Kinder denies the same.
2.
Kinder admits the allegations contained in paragraph 2 of Complainants’
Complaint.
3.
Kinder is without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief
regarding the truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 3 of Complainants’
Complaint, and therefore, Kinder denies the same.
4.
Kinder admits the allegations contained in paragraph 4 of Complainants’
Complaint.
5.
Kinder admits the allegations contained in paragraph 5 of Complainants’
Complaint.
ELECTRONIC FILING, RECEIVED, CLERK'S OFFICE, MARCH 24, 2006
2
6.
Kinder admits the allegations in paragraph 6 of Complainants’ Complaint.
7.
Kinder admits the allegations in paragraph 7 of Complainants’ Complaint.
8.
Kinder denies the allegations in paragraph 8 of Complainants’ Complaint.
9.
Kinder admits the allegations in paragraph 9 of Complainants’ Complaint.
10.
Kinder admits the allegations in paragraph 10 of Complainants’
Complaint.
11.
Kinder admits the allegations in paragraph 11 of Complainants’
Complaint.
12.
Kinder admits the allegations in paragraph 12 of Complainants’ Complaint
to the extent that Pfister and Horton were and/or are employed by Wabash Valley Service
Company to drive spray equipment and to apply agrichemicals at various times and
locations. Kinder further admits that Kinder is, and was, a supervisor of Pfister and
Horton. With regard to the allegation in paragraph 12 that “Kinder . . . is and was
responsible for directing their [i.e., Pfister’s and Horton’s] work, including with respect
to when and how to apply the agrichemicals to Drake’s field,” this allegation states a
legal conclusion to which no response is required. Kinder denies all remaining
allegations and inferences contained in paragraph 12 of Complainants’ Complaint.
13.
Kinder denies the allegations in paragraph 13 of Complainants’
Complaint.
14.
Kinder denies the allegations in paragraph 14 of Complainants’
Complaint.
15.
Kinder denies the allegations in paragraph 15 of Complainants’
Complaint.
ELECTRONIC FILING, RECEIVED, CLERK'S OFFICE, MARCH 24, 2006
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16.
Kinder denies the allegations in paragraph 16 of Complainants’
Complaint.
17.
Kinder denies the allegations in paragraph 17 of Complainants’
Complaint.
18.
In response to paragraph 18 of Complainants’ Complaint, Kinder denies
that chemicals were “sprayed onto Zohfelds’ property.” The remainder of paragraph 18
states a legal conclusion to which no response is required. To the extent that paragraph
18 states any further factual allegations, Kinder denies the same.
19.
Kinder denies the allegations in paragraph 19 of Complainants’
Complaint.
20.
In response to paragraph 20 of Complainants’ Complaint, Kinder denies
that he or anyone “caus[ed] and/or allow[ed] agrichemicals to drift and cloud onto the
adjacent property owned and occupied by the Zohfelds.” The remainder of paragraph 20
states a legal conclusion to which no response is required. To the extent that paragraph
20 states any further factual allegations, Kinder denies the same.
WHEREFORE, the Respondent, STEVE KINDER, respectfully requests that the
Illinois Pollution Control Board deny the relief sought by the Complainants, VERNON
and ELAINE ZOHFELD.
ELECTRONIC FILING, RECEIVED, CLERK'S OFFICE, MARCH 24, 2006
4
FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE
As his First Affirmative Defense to the Complainants’ Complaint, the
Respondent, Kinder, by his counsel, asserts that any claims in the Complainants’
Complaint that refer to any incident, act, omission or any matter whatsoever that occurred
before May 8, 2000, are barred by the applicable statute of limitations, and in support of
this Affirmative Defense, Kinder states as follows:
1.
Complainants’ claims alleging air pollution are not brought by the State.
2.
Claims under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act that are brought
by individuals are subject to the five-year statute of limitations set forth in
735 ILCS 5/13-205.
3.
With regard to any claim made by Complainants in their Complaint
relating to any alleged incident, act, omission or any matter whatsoever that occurred
before May 8, 2000, Complainants failed to bring such claim within the time limit
provided by said statute of limitations.
4.
As a result of Complainants’ failure to file their claims referring to any
incident, act, omission or any matter whatsoever that occurred before May 8, 2000,
within the time limit provided by said statute of limitations, any such claims are barred.
WHEREFORE, the Respondent, STEVE KINDER, respectfully requests that the
Illinois Pollution Control Board find in his favor and against Complainants on this
Affirmative Defense and award him all relief just and proper in the premises.
ELECTRONIC FILING, RECEIVED, CLERK'S OFFICE, MARCH 24, 2006
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SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE
Kinder reserves the right to assert additional affirmative defenses upon
completion of discovery.
Respectfully submitted,
STEVE KINDER,
Respondent,
By:/s/ Thomas G. Safley
One of his Attorneys
Dated: March 24, 2006
Thomas G. Safley
Gale W. Newton
HODGE DWYER ZEMAN
3150 Roland Avenue
Post Office Box 5776
Springfield, Illinois 62705-5776
(217) 523-4900
WVSC:002/Filings/Answer - Kinder v02.doc
ELECTRONIC FILING, RECEIVED, CLERK'S OFFICE, MARCH 24, 2006