A court settlement prevents Mike Betit of Tamarack Hollow Farm in Burlington’s Intervale, and his former investor, Michael Liebis, from revealing details, but documents related to their dispute speak for themselves. According to a November 24 piece in the New York Times, the two were embroiled in a suit involving accusations of “fraud, embezzlement and purloined poultry taken in the dead of night.”

Court documents say that Liebis paid for 900 chickens and 300 turkeys that he would help sell at New York City markets. Betit claims that, once at the markets, Liebis spent his time bothering Tamarack’s employees and annoying customers. He also accuses Liebis of stealing from the farm’s booths in NYC.

In return, Liebis accused Betit of taking parts of his investment for “personal use.” One thing’s for sure: By his own admission, Betit violated laws that prevent him from selling birds that were slaughtered on his small Vermont farm, outside of Vermont. Wish we knew more about this fowl play.