Klinge v. Bentien

STREIT, Justice.

Ambrose Bierce once described litigation as “[a] machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage.” 1 This adage is certainly true in the present case. Two pig farmers attempting to resolve their contract dispute in small claims court, ended up in district court and now our court. Because mediation of farm disputes is mandatory, the decision of the small claims court is void. We reverse and remand for dismissal without prejudice.

I. Facts and Prior Proceedings

John Klinge and Kevin Bentien entered into an oral contract concerning the raising and feeding of pigs.…