john in la
Well-known Member
I was reading about the 3 law suits that have made their way threw the court system in North Carolina against Smithfield foods. The jury has sided with the plaintiff in all 3 cases and has awarded amounts in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
With over 20 more cases waiting for a trial date this could get ugly real quick.
The plaintiff's have argued that Smithfield could do more to prevent the smell from their contractors farms.
Smithfield has argued that no laws have been broken and all the farms have been inspected and found to be within state laws.
A couple of observations I have made.....
Since these are contract farmers I can not see how the farm owner was not even named in the suit.
Seems odd a China company buys Smithfield in 2013 and then over 20 law suits are filed against the company starting in 2014.
How could a state have laws that allow farms in rural agriculture areas to be sued on nuisance and smell when no state laws have been broken.
If the first 3 cases are a insight to the pending 20 cases what does this mean for Smithfield; and what does this mean for hog confinement systems in general for those in other states.
Is this a start of a new era and it is just a matter of time before it spreads to chickens; dairy; and cow feedlots.
I can see this getting ugly real quick and the future of farming in jeopardy.
North Carolina jury awards neighbors 473.5 million
With over 20 more cases waiting for a trial date this could get ugly real quick.
The plaintiff's have argued that Smithfield could do more to prevent the smell from their contractors farms.
Smithfield has argued that no laws have been broken and all the farms have been inspected and found to be within state laws.
A couple of observations I have made.....
Since these are contract farmers I can not see how the farm owner was not even named in the suit.
Seems odd a China company buys Smithfield in 2013 and then over 20 law suits are filed against the company starting in 2014.
How could a state have laws that allow farms in rural agriculture areas to be sued on nuisance and smell when no state laws have been broken.
If the first 3 cases are a insight to the pending 20 cases what does this mean for Smithfield; and what does this mean for hog confinement systems in general for those in other states.
Is this a start of a new era and it is just a matter of time before it spreads to chickens; dairy; and cow feedlots.
I can see this getting ugly real quick and the future of farming in jeopardy.
North Carolina jury awards neighbors 473.5 million