IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2000-IA-01307-SCT
PRESTAGE FARMS, INC., A NON-RESIDENT CORPORATION; JAMES E. BLISSARD, d/b/a J & J BLISSARD FARM; BOBBY BROOKS, d/b/a BOBBY BROOKS SWINE; RICHARD MOORE, d/b/a RICHARD MOORE SWINE FARM; JERRY MILNER d/b/a JERRY MILNER SWINE; GONE HOGWILD, INC., A MISSISSIPPI CORPORATION; PIG PALACE, INC., A MISSISSIPPI CORPARATION; AND PIGS TO HOGS, INC., A MISSISSIPPI CORPORATION v. JIM NORMAN AND BARBARA NORMAN; LARRY BENNETT AND PEGGY BENNETT; CHESTER BRASSFIELD AND ROBBIE BRASSFIELD; JOHNNY BUFORD; W. C. CARNATHAN AND MABLE CARNATHAN; GWEN CHRESTMAN; RUBY CHRESTMAN; AMANDA COCKRELL; JOE COLBERT AND PATRICIA COLBERT; WARREN COLBERT AND STACY COLBERT; SENORA COUSIN AND OLIVIA COUSIN; CHARLES FUNDERBURK AND CAROLYN FUNDERBURK; KENNETH HARDIN AND GLORIA HARDIN; WILLIAM E. HILL AND PAM HILL; L. C. HOLOMAN; BURRELL HOOPER; TONY HOOPER AND REGINA HOOPER; JAMES IVY; BRYAN K. JERNIGAN; ANN L. LUCIUS; DAVID LUCIUS; BILLY KING AND PEGGY SUE KING; TENA McCARTY; JOHN A. McCLENDON, JR. AND PAMELA McCLENDON; BARRY MARTIN; TERRY L. MARTIN; THOMAS O. MARTIN AND RUTH MARTIN; WAYNE EARL MUNLIN AND DOVIE MUNLIN; LENASTRA MURRY; GEORGE R. NORMAN AND CHARLOTTE A. NORMAN; GEORGE ORR; LAURA G. PARKER; JAMISON PEDEN AND LAURA PEDEN; LUCIUS PREWETT AND MARGARET PREWETT; LOY V. REEVES AND LAVANDA REEVES; BOBBY G. SMITH AND BETTY JEAN SMITH; LUTHER W. TERRY; RUTHIE J. THOMAS; HILDA C. THOMPSON; TERRY TUNNELL AND ANGIE TUNNELL; JOYCE B. VANCE; BURELL WHITT AND HAZEL WHITT; DANNY WHITT; JEWEL F. HARRISON AND EDITH HARRISON; AND JIMMY L. KIRKWOOD AND GERTRUDE L. KIRKWOOD DATE OF JUDGMENT: 6/27/2000 TRIAL JUDGE: HON. DENNIS M. BAKER COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHANCERY COURT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS: JOHN ERNEST WADE, JR.
TRUDY D. FISHER
GAYE NELL LOTT CURRIE ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES: WILLIAM H. LISTON, JR.
DANNY E. CUPIT NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - OTHER DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED AND REMANDED - 4/11/2002 MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED: MANDATE ISSUED: 5/2/2002
EN BANC.
DIAZ, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. The plaintiffs filed their joint complaint and request for a bill of peace in the Chancery Court of Montgomery County, Mississippi, on January 4, 2000, against Prestage Farms, Inc. (Prestage), and seven of its contract hog growers (the defendant farmers) alleging (1) the creation, establishment, and maintenance of public nuisances consisting of nine large commercial hog confinement facilities containing hundreds of hogs for the purpose of feeding, growing, and raising hogs belonging to Prestage for sale by Prestage, (2) the creation of private nuisances, and (3) the intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs seek damages and injunctive relief.
¶2. Each of the defendants filed separate answers to the complaint, all of which are substantially the same and all of which assert identical affirmative defenses incorporating common issues of fact and law.
¶3. On March 2, 2000, defendants filed a joint motion to sever parties under M.R.C.P. 21 raising the issue of joinder of plaintiffs and defendants under M.R.C.P. 20(a). After a hearing, the chancellor entered an order on June 27, 2000, denying the defendants' motion to sever.
¶4. On July