PORTLAND, Ore. (Portland Tribune) — The three siblings who filed a lawsuit to halt the sale of Alpenrose dairy have dropped their suit, and the pending sale is off.
While it’s unclear what this means for the dairy over the long-term, it for now appears likely to soothe fears that a sale of the historic business on the western edge of Portland could end public’s access to ballparks, a bike-racing velodrome, a community theater and community events that have been active on the 52-acre site for decades.
“We filed a lawsuit to prevent a sale that would have ended Alpenrose Dairy as we and the community know and love,” said a statement issued lawyer Joe Mabe of Slinde Nelson on behalf of the siblings who filed the suit, Carl Cadonau, Cary Cadonau, and Tracey McKinnon. “The outpouring of support from the Alpenrose community was overwhelming. We are pleased to report that our collective efforts have resulted in the termination of the pending sale. Accordingly, there is no reason to continue the lawsuit. We are humbled by and deeply grateful for the support of the Alpenrose community.”
The Tribune had exclusively reported that the firm lined up to purchase the dairy had been Smith Brothers Farms from the Seattle area, though the firm never issued a statement on the controversy.
The lawsuit filed by three siblings, two of whom work for the dairy, had accused the siblings’ two aunts of planning to sell the land unlawfully and in violation of a family legacy plan.
The law firm Stoll Berne, which represents the two aunts who were accused, Barbara Deeming and Anita Cadonau-Huseby, issued a statement on their behalf and in conjunction with two other family members affiliated with the dairy, Rod and Wendell Birkland.
“We write today representing the majority of the controlling ownership of Alpenrose Dairy and the surrounding property. We understand the news about the Alpenrose Dairy and property has concerned many in our community, including us. The lawsuit, which was brought by three minority owners and members of our own family, has been harmful to the family and misleading to the community. The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit today, which we believe is a helpful step. The property is not presently for sale, and there are no current plans to change public access to the property.”