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South Florida Country Club Raises Stink Over Pig Farmer Next Door

Aired May 18, 2000 - 2:54 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Some folks at a South Florida country club are raising a stink because some of their neighbor's smell.

But then, as CNN's John Zarrella reports, that's their job.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the 15th hole at the Florida Club, you can hear the birds chirping, and you can hear music -- country music -- coming from Paul Thompson's three-acre pig farm across the road from the golf course.

PAUL THOMPSON, PIG FARMER: Playing music reduces stress, enhances the tenderness of the meat, lets the animal grow faster and fatten quicker.

ZARRELLA: While it may soothe the savage beast, it's not music to the ears of the country club developers. They've sued Thompson for damages. The Florida Club claims Thompson blasts the music to harass the golfers, and has increased the number of pigs in the pen to intentionally worsen the odor. Their suit claims it's to pressure the country club to buy him out.

LANCE RICHARD, THOMPSON'S ATTORNEY: You know, this whole lawsuit is absolutely frivolous. I mean, it stinks.

ZARRELLA: "Stinks," says Thompson's attorney, because his client has been here for more than 40 years and the country club only broke ground five years ago.

THOMPSON: They're suing me because I have pigs and because they smell. You saw the sign when you come in the gate: It says, "pig farm." It doesn't say "rose garden." What do they think pigs is going to smell like?

THOMAS WACKEEN, FLORIDA CLUB ATTORNEY: We want to be good neighbors. We would like to resolve it amicably.

ZARRELLA: But attorneys for the Florida Club claim the smell and loud music have reduced property values and hurt sales of home sites.

(on camera): In order to satisfy concerns from developers, the Florida Club had to build that berm behind me with the trees on top of it.

(voice-over): The intent of the berm, which parallels Thompson's property: to muzzle the music and stifle the stink. Residents say it doesn't always work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's mainly around the 15th hole there. But if the wind is blowing right, then it's all over the course at times.

ZARRELLA: Thompson says the bottom line is the Florida Club wants him out, but they haven't made him an offer, say a million bucks. That, Thompson says, would make him happier than a pig in -- well, you know.

John Zarrella, CNN, Stuart, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATERS: Yes, we know.

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