Smithfield loses second N.C. hog farm nuisance trial

A jury in eastern North Carolina found on Friday that a Smithfield Foods hog farm posed a nuisance to neighboring residents and awarded them $25 million in damages, according to federal court documents.Plaintiffs Elvis and Vonnie Williams claimed victory in the second of what is expected to be a dozen similar cases alleging that the company’s hog farms’ waste, noise and odors are diminishing neighbors’ quality of life.A group of residents also won in the first case of the series held in April, with the jury in that case awarding $50 million. That was whittled down to $3 million per a state law that caps damages.