East Texans fought back and won when a chicken farm - and its smells - moved in

A judge closed it. Now, the Texas Supreme Court has been asked to decide if it should reopen in a case with statewide ramifications for landowners and homeowners.
Mersini Blanchard says the first clue a fowl neighbor had moved in was the foul smell.
She thought at first there was a dead animal nearby.
Blanchard and her neighbors would soon realize the smell was coming from a newly built chicken farm, just over a mile from her Malakoff home in Henderson County, about 70 miles southeast of Dallas.
“Sometimes it’s so bad … you cannot come outside to enjoy your property anymore,” Blanchard said.
Appraisal district and court records show the value of the family’s home and 1,200 acres of surrounding property plunged 75 percent after the chicken farm - and the smell - moved in.
“I was going to be stuck with a piece of property here that would basically be worthless,” said Mersini’s son, Frank Blanchard, a Dallas custom home builder.
Frustrated, the Blanchards and their neighbors banded together to file a nuisance lawsuit. They asked that the chicken farm operation be shut down.
In 2019, a jury sided with them, finding the farm was a nuisance to the neighbors. Henderson County District Judge Scott McKee ordered that the chicken farm operation be closed.
“Defendants deny a nuisance exists and have either taken no or insufficient measures to reduce the odor pollution...,” Judge McKee wrote.
Almost two years after the farm operation was shuttered, neighbors worry the smells could return. Sanderson Farms, which supplies chickens to the farm, has appealed the case.
Now before the Texas Supreme Court, any ruling will have potential ramifications for homeowners’ and landowners’ rights across the state.
FULL STORY: www.wfaa.com/a...

[@AnotherCG]

These companies to stop spending money in court instead invest in air quality control

[@mistervo8185]

Jesus Christ....that Farmer must have had to a massive bank loan to even built his farm and just like that , he lost everything...... Just because of people from other properties complain about bad smells.

[@FletcherReidLL]

Yes sir, neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@mistervo8185]

@@FletcherReidLL thx for providing the missing info and conclusion to this story, I also have a chicken farm with neighbors all around but luckily no one complain yet

[@FletcherReidLL]

@@mistervo8185 the eror here has led to a domino effect of neghbors around farms wanting a bite of that non-existent "6mil dollar pie". Mersini Blanchard "ex-lawyr" thought it'd be easy to fleece mynorities, they later mainly use candles at night to save money for lawyrs lol. Sweet karma pie! TX Supreme Court will soon reveal the truth. Blanchards will have no more favors with their pal R. Scott Mckee of Henderson County..

[@ASMRyouVEGANyet]

Well this is the price in capitalism, which is actually based on animal breeding. You don't have to smell it, so you don't get to complain.

[@gafgradingllc5424]

It's not that bad I work on one just get used to it

[@sightline4004]

"Just give them more money and deal with it" he said.

[@GetsumJ]

If the location operated in compliance with the current laws, rules and regulations; Then I disagree with the judge. What we have is basically a group of people who are ok with the problem as long as it's someone other than them that have to deal with it. Not once did a violation be presented. Not one health risk was presented. If the laws need to change, so be it.

[@FletcherReidLL]

Yes sir, neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@AnotherCG]

Imagine someone taking on the challenge to clear and purify the air around the factory imagine the magnitude of such a thing

[@joostvanh1217]

Wow, hope yall like eating crickets.

[@FletcherReidLL]

Yes sir, neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@MHow1900]

The recent Prop 1 should fix this problem. Farmers need to farm. I lived in Pittsburg TX, which has many many chicken farms. Yes it can stink sometimes but it is not as bad as this news report makes it. A friend lived 1/4 mile from a large farm and rarely had a bad smell.

[@FletcherReidLL]

I know someone close to this case. Neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees + can use that 6m to move to greener pastures? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latina daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent from these hard-working mynorities. Ps. Their Property Value actually went UP.

[@Muddyorphan1812]

Americans want their chicken and eat it too. Boycot the company and companies it does business with....oh but you all want to eat your chicken nuggets and chicken sandwiches!

[@LoneStarStinger]

Good for them. It smells soo bad. Chicken farm smells. I always feel bad for the people that have to live near one. The smell goes for miles and this really isn’t exaggeration.

[@elliemay-y4l]

NO TO SANDERSON FARMS!

[@nomosss]

Close it down,animal abuse.Disgusting.

[@joshuamoore24_7]

60 days with no cleanings of the bedding and new bedding being put in is inhumane living conditions for the chickens. Plus a chickens per every square foot, these chickens are literally living on there own feces.👎👎

[@PaulGreenwald]

Grow chickens humanely , they taste better

[@richardsmall8940]

@@PaulGreenwald MORE NUTRIEMTS TO

[@SURENITY]

End this corporate greed!

[@FletcherReidLL]

Neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent. End this small town politics.

[@TRIPLEDIGITS]

It do smell bad, but i love chicken

[@jacksaloman9513]

Does

[@LayneDunn-kr1nh]

People quit complaining, my papa has chicken houses and I’m not suing him am I people just get used to

[@benhudman7911]

Sanderson Farms brought us one of these lovely installations to our small community in Mineola. What a joy to have the stench.

[@jacksaloman9513]

Wish i had a rich family

[@FletcherReidLL]

Yes sir, neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@Grandmatabby]

It shouldn't shut down just cause somebody's house Value is going to go Down that's Their Problem..🤔🤔

[@FletcherReidLL]

Property Value actually went UP. Neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees + can use that 6m to move to greener pastures? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@bradbacak6776]

​@@FletcherReidLLdude shut the f up already. Its annoying

[@Jjason601]

My neighbor has 16 of them in there field

[@NR-tv8fj]

Move back to the city problem solved 😂

[@TheRealDealHunny]

Troll Exit ➡️ 🚪

[@FletcherReidLL]

Neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees + can use that 6m to move to greener pastures? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@FletcherReidLL]

@@TheRealDealHunny Neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees + can use that 6m to move to greener pastures? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@chautiendung]

Add air filter to the farms.

[@FletcherReidLL]

Du Ma neighbors/Blanchard actually lost in Jury Trial 10-2 for not being good enough actors. What reported here was an eror. Don't believe me? Who bands together to turn down 6mil when you got lawyr fees + can use that 6m to move to greener pastures? lol they are friends with the local mayor, judge(s) R. Scott Mckee, and "former" Malakoff principal Ronny Snow (who bulled the worker's 1/2 latino daughter into homeschool). It was shut down in the retrial by their friend R. Scott McKee since they couldn't win a cent.

[@benhudman7911]

The farmers are from somewhere like Cambodia. The whole plan is pure deviance. We get to deal with the stench.

[@wildwildwest1662]

How do you know this farmers are from Cambodia??? Are you working there???

[@FletcherReidLL]

Why does it matter where they came from? Oh, because this town believed some hard-working mynorities would be an easy $ "Free Czech". There are at least 2-3 good moral neighbors that live nearer than Blanchard, who outright REFUSED to sign-on saying they have coffee on their porch every morning and never smell anything.