Source: Ryke Longest, NEWS & OBSERVER, 6/28/18

 Editor's Note: Ryke Longest is a Clinical Professor of Law at the Duke University School of Law and the Nicholas School of the Environment

On June 15, the N.C. General Assembly passed legislation to cut off rural community members from their rights, protected by the common law since before North Carolina was a state. Influential lobbyists and campaign donations by Smithfield Food’s political action committee supported Rep. Jimmy Dixon and Sen. Brent Jackson when they amended an omnibus bill that would ban these citizens from filing nuisance suits against farm operations that harm their ability to enjoy their homes, a clear response to similar suits this summer.

For more of this story, click here.