The verdicts in nuisance lawsuits against North Carolina pork producers continue to garner national attention.
The first judgement from three trials which awarded neighbors of North Carolina hog farms more than 500-million-dollars in punitive damages last year is being appealed.
Andy Curliss, CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council says these nuisance lawsuits aren’t about trying to resolve a dispute between neighbors. “These are big litigation, class action lawyers,” he says. “They have very carefully targeted and identified these cases in an effort to sue modern agriculture.”
He tells Brownfield pork producers from around the country are watching what happens with the appeal. “All of agriculture is very concerned about how these cases have played out,” he says. “If these verdicts are allowed to stand, all of agriculture is threatened by what has happened here.”
Curliss says the lawsuits have served as a reminder that the ag industry needs to have a complete understanding of their state’s Right to Farm laws.
Continue reading Farm groups pushing back against nuisance lawsuits at Brownfield Ag News.
