Posted on Nov 11, 2020
Meat Manufacturer Sues New Mexico After Plant Ordered To Close Due To COVID-19 Cases
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A meat manufacturer is suing New Mexico, saying the state violated an executive order from President Trump by ordering a plant to temporarily close.
Health officials ordered Stampede Meat to close its Sunland Park, N.M., plant last week after six employees tested positive for the coronavirus in a five-day period in late October. A state directive calls for businesses to be shut down for 14 days if four or more employees test positive within a 14-day period.
Stampede Meat argues the closure violates President Trump's April 28 executive order, according to a complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for New Mexico. The order invokes the Defense Production Act to ensure meat plants continue running during the pandemic.
Stampede Meat, which is based in Illinois, says closing will lead to "millions of pounds of meat" being lost and "countless employees" left without work. It asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the closure.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez denied the company's motion but ordered the state to respond to Stampede Meat's complaint by Monday.
Health officials ordered Stampede Meat to close its Sunland Park, N.M., plant last week after six employees tested positive for the coronavirus in a five-day period in late October. A state directive calls for businesses to be shut down for 14 days if four or more employees test positive within a 14-day period.
Stampede Meat argues the closure violates President Trump's April 28 executive order, according to a complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for New Mexico. The order invokes the Defense Production Act to ensure meat plants continue running during the pandemic.
Stampede Meat, which is based in Illinois, says closing will lead to "millions of pounds of meat" being lost and "countless employees" left without work. It asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the closure.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez denied the company's motion but ordered the state to respond to Stampede Meat's complaint by Monday.
Meat Manufacturer Sues New Mexico After Plant Ordered To Close Due To COVID-19 Cases
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
LawsuitState of New Mexico
LawsuitState of New Mexico
Posted 4 y ago
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While food processing is an essential service during this time of pandemic, we should wonder if meat manufacturers are cutting corners on safety and if federal government is being aggressive enough in oversight
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/business/economy/osha-coronavirus-meat.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/business/economy/osha-coronavirus-meat.html
OSHA Criticized for Lax Regulation of Meatpacking in Pandemic
Critics say the agency has applied scant oversight and negligible penalties despite virus outbreaks at many plants in the spring.
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