Tag: Illinois
-
Grand Jury Indicts Distributors of Adulterated and “Washed” Cheese from Mexico
A federal grand jury in Illinois has brought criminal indictments against four individuals who allegedly distributed more than 110,000 pounds of Mexican cheese in the United States in 2007 despite Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “hold” orders and also allegedly “washed” cheese returned by dissatisfied customers by scraping off mold and fungus so it could…
-
Prison Inmates Challenge Soy in Diet as Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Counsel for five current and former Illinois prison inmates has reportedly indicated that four expert witnesses are prepared to testify that the soy in the inmates’ prison diets caused them “irreparable, actual harm,” and thus their litigation against the state, prison wardens and nurses will proceed. Harris v. Brown, No. 07-03225 (C.D. Ill., filed August 16,…
-
Court Stays Illinois Trans Fat Litigation Against Quaker Oats
A federal magistrate judge in Illinois has stayed a putative class action, the fourth of five brought against The Quaker Oats Co., alleging that the company deceives consumers by representing that its granola and oatmeal products are “heart healthy,” “wholesome,” and a “smart choice made easy,” when they actually contain trans fat. Askin v. The…
-
Insurers Must Defend Four Loko Maker in One of Five Lawsuits
A federal court in Illinois has determined that insurers providing coverage to Phusion Projects, Inc., which makes Four Loko, an alcoholic beverage with large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, do not have a duty to defend the company in lawsuits alleging injury from intoxication. Netherlands Ins. Co. v. Phusion Projects, Inc., No. 11-1253 (N.D. Ill.,…
-
Court Dismisses Insurer’s Suit Against Four Loko® Company
A federal court in Illinois has granted the motion to dismiss filed by Phusion Projects, Inc., which sells Four Loko®, a caffeinated alcoholic beverage, in a case brought by one of the company’s insurers seeking a declaration that it owed no duty to defend or indemnify the beverage maker in third-party lawsuits claiming injury, death…
-
Purely Economic Injury Sufficient for Trans Fat Suit Against Quaker Oats to Continue
A federal court in Illinois has determined that a plaintiff claiming that he would not have paid a premium for a product advertised as “heart healthy,” “0 grams trans fat” and “wholesome” had he known it actually contained trans fats, has standing to pursue his false advertising claims under state law. Askin v. The Quaker Oats Co.,…
-
Court Finds Honey Importers Improperly Served, Quashes Summonses
A federal court in Illinois has determined that the government did not allege facts sufficient to pierce the corporate veil of related U.S. and foreign corporations and thus could not bring the foreign corporations before the court on charges of avoiding $80 million in customs duties on honey imported into the United States between 2002 and…
-
Federal Court Rejects Claims That McDonald’s Food Packaging Harms the Environment
A federal court in Illinois has reportedly dismissed on standing grounds the pro se claims of an individual plaintiff who alleged that the food packaging materials used by McDonald’s Corp., when discarded by consumers, pose a threat to the environment. Gencarelli v. McDonald’s Corp., No. 11-5573 (N.D. Ill., decided August 19, 2011). The plaintiff filed his…