Maymead, the company behind a proposed asphalt plant south of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has filed a lawsuit against a consulting firm and one of its former employees. The suit alleges the defendants committed fraud, civil conspiracy, and deceptive trade practices by orchestrating opposition to the project, including having an operative pose as a project opponent.
The complaint centers on claims that the consulting firm and its ex-employee deliberately misrepresented themselves to community members and regulators, aiming to derail the plant's permitting process. Maymead argues this deception harmed its business and violated state trade laws, though the company's allegations have not been tested in court.
The case adds a new dimension to typical siting disputes, which often involve genuine community concerns about emissions and local impacts. Here, the company asserts that at least some opposition was manufactured, potentially complicating how public input is weighed in future environmental reviews. No court decision has been made, and the defendants have not yet responded publicly.