(Dakota Dunes, SD) — Dakota Dunes based B-P-I has filed a $1.2 Billion lawsuit against ABC News and the American Broadcasting Company for knowingly and intentionally publishing false and disparaging statements regarding B-P-I and its product known as lean Finely Textured Beef. The 250 page lawsuit was filed in Union County District Court in South Dakota Thursday morning.
Dan Webb, chairman of the Winston and Strawn law firm that is representing the company, says ABC News launched a long term sustained vicious attack of misinformation against B-P-I.
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Webb says the lawsuit takes issue with the term “Pink Slime” which how many of the news reports referred to B-P-I’s product.
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Webb says he will tell a jury that 30 years of hard work and production of a good product were decimated in the 30 days of ABC’s reports.
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The company estimates it lost $400 million in profits, so they are asking for triple damages as specified under South Dakota’s food disparagment statute, as well as additional punitive damages.
A statement from ABC News says the lawsuit is without merit.
