Alabama Man Wins $70M Lawsuit After Flesh-Eating Bacteria Infection

Mark Griffin prevailed against Tyson Farms over river pollution that led to life-changing illness.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:19am

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An abstract studio still life featuring a polished metal pipe fitting, a glass beaker, and a petri dish with a sample of flesh-eating bacteria, arranged elegantly on a clean white background to symbolize the complex issues of corporate responsibility, environmental regulation, and public health at the heart of this legal case.A powerful legal victory highlights the devastating human toll of corporate pollution and the ongoing fight for environmental justice.Hanceville Today

An Alabama man named Mark Griffin was awarded a $70 million verdict against Tyson Farms after wastewater from the company's Hanceville plant polluted the Black Warrior River, leading to Griffin contracting a severe flesh-eating bacterial infection that changed his life. Griffin spent nearly 80 days in the hospital and is still dealing with the long-term effects years later.

Why it matters

This case highlights the serious public health and environmental risks posed by industrial pollution, as well as the legal challenges individuals face in holding large corporations accountable. The record-setting verdict sends a strong message about the consequences of negligence that harms local communities.

The details

In 2020, a pipe malfunction at Tyson Farms' Hanceville plant released hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater into the Black Warrior River. Griffin contracted a flesh-eating bacterial infection from the polluted river and spent nearly 80 days hospitalized. He is still dealing with ongoing weakness and other effects of the illness years later.

  • In 2020, a pipe malfunction at Tyson Farms' Hanceville plant released wastewater into the Black Warrior River.
  • Six years ago, Griffin contracted a flesh-eating bacterial infection from the polluted river.
  • Griffin spent nearly 80 days in the hospital recovering from the infection.
  • It took Griffin 5-6 years to fully recover from the long-term effects of the illness.
  • The $70 million verdict was awarded in April 2026.

The players

Mark Griffin

An Alabama resident who contracted a severe flesh-eating bacterial infection after Tyson Farms' wastewater polluted the Black Warrior River, leading him to win a $70 million lawsuit against the company.

Tyson Farms

A subsidiary of the Tyson Foods family of businesses that operates a plant in Hanceville, Alabama, where a pipe malfunction led to the release of wastewater that polluted the Black Warrior River and caused Griffin's illness.

Dennis Goldasich

The attorney who represented Griffin in the lawsuit against Tyson Farms.

Josh Vick

An attorney who highlighted Griffin's resilience and refusal to quit throughout his ordeal.

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What they’re saying

“I want the people who are responsible for the spill in the river to have to be held accountable for what they've done.”

— Mark Griffin

“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.”

— Josh Vick, Attorney

“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. Our team fought as hard as we could, and it certainly lent itself to a David versus Goliath mentality.”

— Dennis Goldasich, Attorney

What’s next

Tyson Farms could still appeal the $70 million 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.

The takeaway

This case highlights the serious public health and environmental risks posed by industrial pollution, as well as the legal challenges individuals face in holding large corporations accountable. The record-setting verdict sends a strong message about the consequences of negligence that harms local communities.