10/14/2024

MINCOQUA – Kirk Bangstad Agrees to a Partial Settlement Payment on the near $760,000 defamation judgement against him.  After a state court of appeals denied his bid to delay payment of a judgement against him in the defamation suit brought by the Lakeland Times and River News publisher Greg Walker, Kirk Bangstad, owner of the Mincoqua Brewing Company, has agreed to pay Walker $580,000 of the $759, 428 judgements against him. Bangstad will also have to remove several social media posts and agree not to post them again. The monetary judgement against Bangstad is thought to be the largest defamation award in state history. Under the terms of the settlement, Society Insurance Company paid $80,000, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company paid $450,000, and Bangstad himself paid $50,000 of the settlement. The settlement also removes liens on Bangstad property held by Walker. The settlement agreement releases all parties from any further liability to the claims.