Smithfield Foods has lost its fifth of 26 lawsuits over manure odours from its hog-farming operations in North Carolina.
This time the jury awarded $420,000. In the previous cases, juries awarded about $550 million, but state law caps the amount that can be awarded so Smithfield’s liabilities are much less.
Nearby residents complained that Smithfield stored hog manure in open-air lagoons and sprayed it on fields releasing odours that reduced property values.
Smithfield has defended its practices not only as an efficient means of managing waste but also as a requirement of North Carolina law. The company called the latest verdict “unfair and unjust” and plans to appeal, as it has previous rulings.
“These lawsuits are an abuse of our legal system, one that bypasses decisions made by lawmakers and regulators,” Smithfield spokeswoman Keira Lombardo said.
“We will continue to defend these cases on behalf of family farmers and all agriculture.”
