After five bellwether trials resulted in verdicts for the plaintiffs, Smithfield reached a global settlement for the nuisance claims.
Ongoing Coverage Dispute
Following the settlement, Smithfield and Murphy-Brown sued Ace American and other insurers in 2019. While Old Republic Insurance Co. and American Guarantee & Liability Insurance Co. have since been dismissed from the case, Ace American remains.
A Business Court ruling last year placed the burden on Chubb to prove which costs were reasonable, rather than requiring Smithfield and Murphy-Brown to justify their defense expenses.
Legal Representation
- Smithfield Foods and Murphy-Brown are represented by Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP and Reed Smith LLP.
- Ace American is represented by Bailey & Dixon LLP and Clyde & Co. US LLP.
As the April trial approaches, the Business Court will decide whether Chubb’s deposition request will be granted, potentially shaping the outcome of this high-stakes insurance dispute.
