Lawsuit Over Purina Plant’s ‘Rancid’ Odor Dismissed
A class action lawsuit targeting the Nestlé Purina pet food plant in Denver’s Elyria-Swansea neighborhood has been voluntarily dismissed. Filed in 2024 by local residents Robert Fields and Lorena Ortiz, the suit claimed that “noxious” and “rancid” odors from the facility were so intense they caused physical discomfort and devalued property in the surrounding area. Complaints submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment described the smell as gag-inducing, with one person comparing it to someone vomiting in their backyard.
The plaintiffs alleged that the odor affected more than 2,000 homes and sought damages for nuisance and negligence. However, on May 28, a U.S. District Court document confirmed that Fields and co-plaintiff Christy Harader had dismissed their claims with prejudice, meaning they cannot refile individually, though the broader class claims were dismissed without prejudice—leaving the door open for future legal action.
No explanation has yet been given for the dismissal.
