The Link family feud has come to Douglas County Circuit Court.
Jay Link, now of Wascott, filed a civil suit Monday against his father, Jack Link; his brother, Troy Link; the Minong-based meat snack company Link Snacks; and the company's chief financial officer, John Hermeier. The complaint accuses the men of withholding dividends and other money from Jay during the time between a court-
ordered sale of his stock in Link Snacks and the actual sale.
The charges are rooted in a buyout agreement that was activated when Jack fired Jay on Jay's birthday in 2005. Jay, who was company president, refused to sell his stock, and Jack sued Jay in court to enforce the agreement.
After a six-week trial, a Washburn County jury awarded the company
ADVERTISEMENT
$5.2 million for Jay's interference with a company supplier and the jury awarded Jay $5.7 million for Troy's breach of fiduciary duty. Circuit Court Judge Eugene Harrington reduced Jay's jury award to $736,000 and later ordered the company to pay Jay $26.4 million for his shares of the family's companies.
Jay appealed and the appeals court reinstated the $5.7 million damage award against the company finding that it missed the deadline to file its motion to reduce the award.
Both sides appealed to the state Supreme Court in October, and no decision has been handed down yet.
