Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Two fishermen expecting settlement in case against Extreme Seafoods

Lawyer for two set netters says Extreme Salmon, LLC, likely to agree to settlement to make good (or better) on 2014 season.

Extreme Seafoods was one of two new processors in Bristol Bay’s fishery in 2014. After the season, some fishermen complained they were not paid the preseason promised price of at least $2 per pound, or did not receive promised sign on bonuses. Some have now taken Extreme Seafoods, under the company name Extreme Salmon LLC, to court. KDLG’s Dave Bendinger has more:

Set net fishermen Ryan Willson and Kevin Cossairt hired attorney Tim Twomey in Anchorage to press their case. Twomey tells KDLG News that his two clients entered into preseason agreements to sell their catch exclusively to Extreme Seafoods.

"And they delivered all of their fish to Extreme with the understanding that they would be paid $2.10 per pound for iced and bled fish. Plus they were due an addition $.10 a pound if they delivered to the dock, which they did," said Twomey.

There was also a pledged sign-up bonus which Twomey says his clients did not receive.

"On their behalf I prepared and filed fishermen's liens which are permitted by Alaska statute, and recorded those, and then proceeded to file a breach of contract lawsuit against Extreme," said Twomey.

That was filed in September. Twomey says Extreme Salmon LLC has now agreed to a negotiated settlement which his clients are prepared to accept.

"The settlement is kind of a compromise, based upon the cost of further litigating this case, and resolving this and looking forward to the upcoming 2015 season," said Twomey. "And I don't whether Extreme will be back or not," he added.

Extreme Seafoods had a bumpy entry into the Bristol Bay fishery, with several fishermen claiming they were not paid. The company also had to grind up and destroy 119,000 pounds of sockeye that inspectors said were delivered hot by a tender.

A Seattle-based lawyer for Extreme Seafoods said he could not comment on any open litigation.