Fairbank Reconstruction v. Greater Omaha Packing, 701 F.3d 1

GOPAC supplied combo beef to Fairbank, which processed it into ground beef sold in Maine.
Fall 2009 E. coli outbreak sickened 32 people; Fairbank's Ashville facility recalled about 500,000 pounds.
Long and Smith purchased Fairbank ground beef in Shaw's supermarkets and sued Fairbank in Maine federal court for damages.
Fairbank asserted third-party indemnity claims against GOPAC, alleging GOPAC supplied tainted meat.
After settlements with Long and Smith, only Fairbank vs. GOPAC remained; a jury found GOPAC delivered adulterated beef.
Trial record included traceback testimony and circumstantial evidence linking GOPAC meat to the outbreak; district court denied post-trial motions.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Was the evidence sufficient to prove GOPAC supplied tainted meat?	Long & Smith contend strong traceback and circumstantial evidence supports GOPAC as source.	GOPAC argues the evidence is insufficient and challenges the traceback validity.	Yes; substantial evidence supported GOPAC as the source.
Was the Zirnstein video deposition properly admitted?	Fairbank's admissions justify admissibility; video provided useful non-impeaching testimony.	GOPAC argued improper foundation; trial error under plain error standard.	No plain error; district court did not err in admitting the video.

Cortés-Reyes v. Salas- Quintana, 608 F.3d 41 (1st Cir. 2010) (de novo review of denial of judgment as a matter of law)
Acevedo-Diaz v. Aponte, 1 F.3d 62 (1st Cir. 1993) (standard for appellate reversal on jury verdicts)
Attrezzi, LLC v. Maytag Corp., 436 F.3d 32 (1st Cir. 2006) (credibility and weight of evidence are jury concerns)
Microfinancial, Inc. v. Premier Holidays Int'l, Inc., 385 F.3d 72 (1st Cir. 2004) (plain error standard after lack of objection at trial)
United States v. Borrero-Acevedo, 533 F.3d 11 (1st Cir. 2008) (plain-error review framework)