On March 15, 2017, a jury in the District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi returned a defense verdict in favor of Peco Foods, Inc. and against 55 plaintiffs. The underlying lawsuit involved nuisance and negligence-based claims brought by residents of the Egypt, Mississippi community related to Peco Foods’ contracts with two broiler chicken farms in the area. Specifically, the residents complained that the farms were a nuisance because they allegedly produced excessive odors, flies, and truck traffic. Plaintiffs also claimed that Peco Foods was negligent in contracting and continuing its contractual relationship with the farms. After a 13-day trial that involved 70 witnesses, the jury found that none of the 55 plaintiffs had established their claims against Peco Foods and returned a defense verdict. Judge Michael Mills presided over the trial. During closing argument, the Plaintiffs’ counsel asked the jury to award $11 million in monetary damages.