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Judge says Ohio jurors order state's largest egg farm to pay $19.7 million to neighbors

The Associated Press

NEWARK, Ohio (AP) A jury Sunday ordered the state's largest egg farm to pay more than $19.7 million to neighbors who complained about odors and fly infestations, the judge in the case said.

Twenty-one neighbors of the Buckeye Egg Farm in central Ohio sued the company after complaining for years about environmental problems.

The jury found that Buckeye Egg and its owner, Anton Pohlmann, were responsible for the problems, said Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Gregory Frost.

Damages were awarded to each plaintiff individually. The amounts range from $671,210, which went to seven neighbors, to a total of just more than $2.4 million that went to one couple.

Compensatory damages, which cover property and its diminished value, totaled nearly $4 million. Punitive damages, which are ordered as a punishment for wrongful acts, amounted to about $15.7 million.

Pohlmann has said such a verdict could bankrupt the company. He did not immediately return a call for comment Sunday.

Jurors heard three weeks of testimony and began deliberating Friday.

The lawsuit was one of several against Buckeye Egg. The state has filed seven sets of contempt charges for violations such as spilling contaminated water into a creek and failing to stop large outbreaks of flies.

Buckeye Egg has settled a lawsuit with the state that accused the company of dumping dead chickens in a field, polluting creeks and causing infestations of flies, beetles and other insects.

The company has said it is improving its operations.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2001

Answers

I wish we could sue like this in Iowa against the hog factories. The Iowa legislature in all it's wisdom has protected the hog and chicken factories from "nuisance" lawsuits. That is in the process of being struck down (an appeals court has struck it down, but that is on appeal right now).

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Hmmm I have the Purrrfect spot for the chicken Coops, and the absolute best spot for a pig sty.......yep..un-huh! ;^ ) and I LIVE in OHIO!!!!!

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Oh man, what an idea!!! Do it! See if they want to buy your property!

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Git...you are forgetting WHO has to care for these animals!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2001