Lawsuit targets fever tick quarantine program

BROWNSVILLE — A Cameron County cattle rancher says he and other ranchers “are mad” about the management of the fever tick quarantine program. Daniel “Danny” E. Davis of the Cascabel Cattle Co. says the application of regulations in the program in CameronCounty is arbitrary. He says cattle owners have been subjected to threats of criminal charges and alleges misuse of tick insecticide and illegal dumping of hazardous waste. He also says nilgai antelope have been needlessly slaughtered and operation of the program has hampered the sale of cattle despite no ticks. These challenges to the joint federal and state management of the program by the Texas Animal Health Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are contained in a federal lawsuit Davis filed in Brownsville this past week...In a 90-page complaint, Davis outlines a nightmare in dealing with the state and federal agencies and what he says are damages received at their hands. He says laws and constitutional rights are being violated. “This lawsuit is about the rule of law, and private rights under the U.S. Constitution,” the lawsuit states. “Specifically, USDA and TAHC are utilizing memorandums, guidances, and directives as if they were laws.” Davis alleges federal and state agencies and officials violated their duties under the law and tried to insulate themselves from legal challenges from those who suffered negative effects...more