News

Smithfield loses another nuisance lawsuit

Smithfield Foods has been deemed responsible, for a fifth time, for being a nuisance to neighbors because of hog waste at one of the company’s facilities.  This is the second time a jury heard about the conditions from the 5,000 head operation in Duplin County, North Carolina.  Jurors awarded $420,000 to the neighbors after four previous juries awarded more than 500-million-dollars in penalties. 

The North Carolina Pork Council says they are disappointed in the ruling, especially as farmers operate lawfully in a highly regulated industry.  The council says they are concerned about the long-term impact these lawsuits could have on the rural North Carolina communities where agriculture is critical to economic growth and their impact on the entire ag industry.

The first judgement from the previous trials against Smithfield is currently being reviewed in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.