“Pink Slime” libel suit begins in South Dakota

The Beef Products Inc. defamation case against ABC for a series of news reports by Diane Sawyer and Jim Avila on BPI’s signature product began on Monday in South Dakota, reports Joseph Rothberg of Forbes.

Rothberg writes, “So, it will be up to the empaneled South Dakota jury decide whether ABC made a false report by using the term ‘pink slime’ in their report on LFTB, even if ABC was attributing the term to USDA scientists, who allegedly regularly use the term ‘pink slime’ as slang for LFTB.

“ABC’s counsel states, ‘We believe in the principle that people deserve to know what’s in the food they eat and are confident that when all the facts are presented in court, ABC’s reporting will be fully vindicated.’

“The most interesting wrinkle in this case appears to be its timing coinciding with major societal questions about libel laws, fake news media, the public’s consumption of media, and questions pertaining to the First Amendment.”

Read more here.