Court Extends Halt on Controversial Coffee County Poultry Farm as Plaintiffs and Defendants Clash in Legal Battle

Coffee County, Alabama – A legal battle over a proposed commercial poultry farm in southern Coffee County continues as an injunction has been extended, preventing any further development until September 29, 2025. The next court hearing is set for that date at the Coffee County Courthouse. The dispute stems from a hearing held on August 12, where five plaintiffs—Bruce Brooker, Rebecca Temple, Legrand Roberts, Hamp Adams, and Sims Funeral Homes, Inc.—sought to block the poultry project. The presiding judge, Kelly Brooks, issued a temporary injunction halting all work on the site, citing the need for … Read more

Oklahoma Judge Affirms Ongoing Poultry Pollution Crisis in Illinois River Watershed Amidst 20-Year Legal Battle

Oklahoma City, Okla. — A federal district judge announced Tuesday that the State of Oklahoma has offered sufficient evidence to demonstrate that poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed (IRW) has not significantly changed since the onset of a lengthy legal battle. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell highlighted that phosphorus from poultry waste continues to pose serious threats to the waters of the IRW and Lake Tenkiller. Although a final decision in this ongoing lawsuit has not yet been issued, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed optimism about reaching an agreement … Read more

North Carolina Court Evaluates Alleged Animal Cruelty in Poultry Production Amid Legal Exemption Controversy

RALEIGH, N.C. — In North Carolina, a contentious legal battle unfolds as a Burke County poultry operation faces allegations of violating state animal cruelty laws. Legal Impact for Chickens represents the plaintiff in the case, arguing that Case Farms, the defendant, has committed acts of "intentional cruelty” under the protection of an exemption within state law. The case, now before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, is drawing scrutiny from major agricultural bodies, signaling wide-reaching implications for the state’s poultry and pork industries. The lawsuit contends that Case Farms knowingly engages in practices such as … Read more

Maryland Court Enforces Stricter Pollution Controls on Eastern Shore Poultry Plant Amid Environmental Concerns

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland court has mandated tighter pollution controls at an Eastern Shore poultry rendering facility following a judge’s ruling that sided with environmental groups. The Dorchester County Circuit Court concluded that the state’s previously issued discharge permit for Valley Proteins did not adequately protect local water bodies. This ruling requires the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to revise the permit to impose stricter regulations and ensure better water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The plant, which converts poultry byproduct into pet food, sits along the Transquaking River, a tributary of … Read more