News

ABC seeks dismissal of BPI lawsuit

ABC News is asking for dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Beef Products Inc. (BPI).

BPI sued ABC over last year’s coverage of BPI’s lean finely textured beef product. ABC was one of the first media outlets to describe the product as “pink slime” and continued to use the term in its news reports even after the production process was fully explained.

ABC’s dismissal request follows a judge’s ruling this week that the case should be considered in a South Dakota circuit court rather than U.S. district court.  That move is seen as a defeat for ABC, which had hoped to have the case heard in federal court. 

According to a Reuters report, defendants sometimes prefer to fight lawsuits in federal courts, where procedures are more standardized and where the prevailing law may be more favorable.

BPI claims the network damaged the company by misleading consumers into believing the product is unhealthy and unsafe. It is seeking one-point-two billion dollars in damages.