Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- July 12, 2024
- Location
- New Madrid, Missouri
- Targets
- KFVS-TV
- Legal Orders
-
-
subpoena
for
communications or work product
- July 12, 2024: Pending
- Unknown date: Objected to
- Aug. 12, 2024: Ignored
-
subpoena
for
other testimony
- July 12, 2024: Pending
- Unknown date: Objected to
- Aug. 12, 2024: Ignored
-
subpoena
for
communications or work product
- Legal Order Target
- Institution
- Legal Order Venue
- State
Subpoena/Legal Order
A portion of the subpoena issued to broadcast station KFVS-TV on July 12, 2024, ordering the news outlet to provide copies of communications and interview recordings or notes in connection with a lawsuit against Tyson Foods in New Madrid, Missouri.
Broadcast station KFVS-TV was subpoenaed on July 12, 2024, in connection with a lawsuit against Tyson Foods in New Madrid, Missouri. The outlet ignored the subpoena without pushback.
Multiple chicken farmers sued the meat company in December 2023 for allegedly breaking its contracts after it shut down a processing plant in nearby Stoddard County, causing the farmers significant financial losses.
Attorneys representing the farmers told Investigate Midwest that after the suit was filed, Tyson attempted to intimidate the plaintiffs and suppress media coverage.
KFVS-TV, which reported on the lawsuit in January 2024, was subpoenaed by Tyson in July and ordered to turn over copies of its communications with the farmers and all recordings or notes from any interviews with them. The news outlet was also ordered to have someone appear to testify on Aug. 12.
Brandon Boulware, an attorney representing the farmers, told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that KFVS-TV sent a letter to Tyson objecting to the subpoena, after which the company did not attempt to enforce it.
KFVS-TV did not respond to a request for comment.
Tyson also asked the court to authorize it to issue an identical subpoena to another news outlet — Arkansas-based news website Talk Business & Politics. Circuit Court Judge Joshua Underwood granted the request July 24, but the company did not file paperwork showing it was served.
Roby Brock, the CEO of TBP’s parent company, confirmed to the Tracker in January 2025 that the outlet was not issued the subpoena.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
