Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Stevens

Thomas R. Burnett owns a family farm in rural St. Clair County. In 1990, Burnett entered into a "Finishing Hog Agreement" with Arkansas-California Livestock Company, Inc., a predecessor of Tyson Foods, Inc. ("Tyson"). The contract stated that Burnett was an independent contractor of Tyson, and it provided that he would be responsible for operating and maintaining a hog farm. Tyson would deliver young hogs to Burnett, and he would feed, water, and care for the hogs until they reached market size, at which time Tyson would retrieve the hogs.1

Pursuant to the contract, Tyson supplied all food,…