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Stench costs millions for producer
Three families, troubled by the smell from a
North West Missouri pig farm, must be paid $4.5 million by Premium Standard
Farms (PSF), the US's second-largest pork producer, a jury ruled.
The families' lawyer, Charles Speer, said the verdict was "by far and away
the biggest award (in the nation) against a major confined animal
producer."
More lawsuits are to be expected, as Speer is dealing with more than 50
other lawsuits against PSF. A separate class action involving a group of law
firms aims to represent owners, having property within 10 miles of the company's
over 20 pig farms in the state of Missouri.
Hostility
Before the jury read its verdict, attorney Kirk Goza said the property
owners were motivated by hostility against corporate farms. In his view the
smells were minor, infrequent and quickly faded.
He added that PSF is looking for new methods to stop odour and has already
spent millions of dollars to control it.
Premium Standard, which has about 2,200 employees in Missouri, is in the
process of being sold to Smithfield, the world's largest pork processor.
Related website:
Editor PigProgress
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