NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Beef Products Inc. sued ABC News, Inc. for defamation Thursday over its coverage of a meat product that critics dub "pink slime," claiming the network damaged the company by misleading consumers into believing it is unhealthy and unsafe.
Dan Wewbb, BPI's Chicago-based attorney, said the Dakota Dunes, S.D.-based meat processor is seeking $1.2 billion in damages for roughly 200 "false and misleading and defamatory" statements about the product officially known as lean, finely textured beef.
ABC News, owned by The Walt Disney Co., denied BPI's claims.
Senior vice president Jeffrey W. Schneider said in a statement, "The lawsuit is without merit. We will contest it vigorously."
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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Legal experts say a South Dakota beef processor that is suing ABC News for defamation faces a steep climb for a victory in court.
Beef Products Inc. sued ABC News, Inc. for defamation Thursday over its coverage of a meat product that critics dub "pink slime." The company alleges that the network created an inaccurate impression that the product is unsafe.
The lawsuit seeks damages under South Dakota's defamation law, as well as a 1994 state law that allows businesses to sue anyone who knowingly spreads false information about a food product. A company lawyer says BPI will seek $1.2 billion in damages.
Drake University law professor Neil Hamilton says BPI may struggle to convince a jury that the news stories were defamatory or that harm was intended.
