'David versus Goliath mentality': Alabama man wins $70 million lawsuit against Tyson Farms

Mark Griffin won a $70 million verdict against Tyson Farms after wastewater from the company’s Hanceville plant polluted the Black Warrior River in Alabama, leading to a flesh-eating bacterial infection that changed his life.

"I want the people who are responsible for the spill in the river to have to be held accountable for what they've done," Griffin said.

Griffin contracted flesh-eating bacteria from the Black Warrior River six years ago after a pipe malfunction at Tyson Farms’ Hanceville plant released hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater into the river.

Griffin spent nearly 80 days in the hospital and said he is still dealing with the effects years later. He described ongoing weakness and said it took five or six years to recover.

"It got to be where I would fall a lot because of the weakness of laying up for 80 days, and it doesn't seem like it would take five, six years to get over it, but it took five or six years to get over this stuff," Griffin said.

"Seven years later, he's still dealing with the effects of this illness and will be for the rest of his life. The impact that it had on his life, his illness, but also sort of his resiliency and his refusal to quit was really impressive to us. That makes it easier for us to stick with something like this," Vick said.

Griffin’s attorney, Dennis Goldasich, said the case was a difficult one against Tyson Farms, with large legal teams on both sides.

"At any given point in time, there were teams on both of the defendants that looked like it was 14 to 15 people in the courtroom at any point in time," Goldasich said. "Our team fought as hard as we could, and it certainly lent itself to a David versus Goliath mentality."

The $70 million award is the largest verdict in Walker County, Alabama, history. Griffin said he hopes it helps prevent future pollution and holds those responsible accountable.

"I feel like it will help to stop this from happening anymore and polluting the river any more than it did. Other people as polluters maybe could look at that and say, 'Maybe I better quit,' because there are other people that pollute the river as well," Griffin said.

Tyson Farms could still appeal the verdict, though no appeal had been filed at the last check. Griffin’s lawsuit is one of several tied to the spill, and five other cases are still pending.

When driving coast to coast, I could always smell those huge disgusting chicken farms from miles away. Poor little birds don’t have lives, they are just born to die.

Yes,,, I eat chicken, only meat I eat, have it every third night. Pasture raised chicken thighs, a little more expensive but not that much. And buy pasture-raised eggs too. Friend knows the familuy that sells great eggs at local stores here: : Safeway and Natural Grocer. “Wilcox Family Farms” in the Pacific NW. Not sure they sell all over the country. Trader Joe has good pasture raised chicken and eggs too. Birds have happier lives and taste better too.

Always wanted to drive from the east where I live out west, taking northern routes to the Pacific Coast, then returning through the southern states. Thought it would be a blast to drive Route 66 just to experience it. Too old now to do it.

I don't eat much chicken myself, but when I do, only have the white meat. Same thing with turkey. When I cook chicken for others, I always buy Purdue Brand. I only buy Eggland's Best Eggs.

I do eat pork. Love ham, bacon and pork breakfast sausage, enjoy good BBQ pulled pork, but there aren't any places around here. Dinosaur BBQ is well known in this area. The closest is in Syracuse. Never been to that one, but when I visit my oldest son in Troy, NY, there's one not far from where he lives. Gianelli Sausage producer is in Syracuse. I buy their link Italian sausage when I make sauce, and I also like their Italian sausage patties. I like their Pepper and Onion Italian patties and their cheese and garlic patties. They are both very good with fried peppers and onions on them.

Can't stand beef hot dogs. My favorite hot dogs are made by Zweigle's which is stationed in Rochester, NY. I grew up on them. I like their Texas skinless hots. My sons like their pop-open red and white hots. The white hots are seasoned pork. I can usually get them at Wegman's in Syracuse, which is an hour west of me, or pick them up when I visit my niece and her family who live a little north of Rochester.

I do eat burgers, but cook them at home. Don't eat out much here because there's mostly fast-food where I live, and I can't stand their food. The closest Red Robin is in Syracuse as is the closest Outback Steakhouse. They are about an hour west of me. We used to have an Outback about a half-hour from us, but it closed down a long time ago. It's been years since I've been to either one.

I don't like fish or seafood. I'll only eat prime white albacore canned tuna fish in water. I make tuna salad and make tuna melts with it. There are no Safeway or Trader Joe's near me. Syracuse has the closest Trader Joe's.

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