On November 4, 2013 a small community located to the east of LA filed a lawsuit against Huy Fong Foods, better known as the makers of the ever-so-popular hot sauce, Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. The city filed this lawsuit in an attempt to limit the strong odor of the jalapeno crushing done to make the sauce. Some residents state that the odor is so strong that it causes irritation to the eyes and throat and even causes people to leave their homes to seek relief from the smell. An attorney for the company stated that they just installed a new filtration system that was completed on November 5, 2013 but that if they shut the company down now they will not know if the problem will be solved as the chili harvesting season ends at the end of November. Residents of Irwindale also sought immediate relief by filing a motion for a temporary restraining order but this was denied by the Judge for being "rather edgy" and he instead set a hearing date of November 12, 2013 to hear more details about the story. The company ended up being allowed to reopen.
It will be interesting to see if the lawyers gain any more traction on this suit. Could the state attempt to take their rights away, or even the land itself using sovereign immunity?