Judge orders Australian animal health firm to repay local incentives after abandoning its Lawrence offices

An Australia-based animal health company that received startup funding from both the City of Lawrence and Douglas County has been ordered to repay some of that money now that it has abandoned its local offices.

However, city officials say there’s no easy way for the local governments to collect what they’re owed, because the company appears to be defunct and the money is in a foreign country.

Last year, the two local governments filed a lawsuit against Integrated Animal Health in Douglas County District Court. The lawsuit alleges that the company breached its incentives contract, and the city and county sought to recoup one-third of a $100,000 grant provided to the company as part of the agreement.