Eugene C. Anderson v. Smithfield Foods

I. INTRODUCTION

A group of landowners appeals the district court’s judgment dismissing their civil action and imposing sanctions on their counsel in the amount of $128,563.43. We affirm dismissal of the action, but reverse the award of sanctions.

II. BACKGROUND & PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiffs Eugene C. Anderson, Cynthia Bailey Watson, Roger Dae Pickett, Marvin Carnagey, Keith Dotson, Jim Braum, Linus Solberg, Betty Janssen, and Don Webb own land abutting Defendant Smith-field Foods, Inc., the world’s largest hog producer and pork processor. Plaintiffs bring this putative class action on then-own…