By Charlotte Smith
Smithfield Hog Production, doing business as Murphy-Brown has lost three lawsuits in the last few months with jurors awarding multi-millions of dollars to the plaintiffs in the cases. Farmers and Legislators have been saying these hog industry lawsuits threaten agriculture; now there is proof.
Some hog famers say they had to take out loans when they decided to go into the farming business. The farmers caught in the middle of the trials have contracts with Smithfield Hog Production/Murphy-Brown. The contracts are a peace of mind for farmers who took out loans, have payroll to meet and have other operating expenses from their hog farms.
The jurors from the last trial awarded the six plaintiffs an astronomical amount, to the tune of 473.5 million dollars for the odor nuisance claims. The almost half a billion dollar award was reduced to 94 million dollars, but the latest verdict has caused many to wonder what the affects will be in our state.
In an interview with hog farm Operations Manager, Travis Brown, it was confirmed some hog farmers have no hogs to raise due to the nuisance lawsuits. After the first lawsuit awarded plaintiff’s 50 million dollars before being capped; Bladen County Farmer Billy Kinlaw lost his contract to raise hogs.
Reports have been made about Carter Farms involved in the second lawsuit losing their farming contract as well.
“It is time for us to stand up and speak out,” said Ed Emory, President of NC Farm Families.
However, the hog farmers involved in the lawsuits have a gag order preventing them from talking about their side of the cases.
Attorney for the plaintiffs, Michael Kaeske said in each case, Smithfield has “substantially and unreasonably interfered” with people’s enjoyment of their property. However, Attorney James Neale argued for his defendants’, no laws have been broken and the plaintiff’s claims are exaggerated.
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