Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Tag: Michigan

  • Lawsuit Alleges Dole Salad Caused Listeria Meningitis

    A father has filed a lawsuit alleging that eating Dole Food Co.’s ready-to-eat salad greens caused his son to develop Listeria meningitis, leaving the son with long-term impairment of motor, cognitive and communication skills. Robinson v. Dole Food Co., No. 17-13644 (E.D. Mich., filed November 8, 2017). The complaint alleges that the son was served packaged…

  • Little Caesars Faces Class Action Over “Halal” Pizza Containing Pork

    A Muslim man who alleges he was served pork pepperoni on a pizza sold as halal has filed a $100-­million putative class action against Little Caesar Enterprises. Bazzi v. Little Caesar Pizza, 17­-7931 (Mich. Cir. Ct. Wayne Cty., filed May 25, 2017). According to the complaint, the plaintiff ordered the pizza at a franchise location…

  • Court Rejects Wax Maker’s Bid to Leave Kellogg’s Cereal Bag Recall Suit

    A Michigan federal court has denied The International Group Inc.’s (IGI’s) motion for summary judgment in a case alleging that the waxmaker and FPC Flexible Packaging Corp. provided Kellogg with non-merchantable cereal bags. Kellogg Co. v. FPC Flexible Packaging Corp., No. 11-272 (W.D. Mich., order entered September 30, 2014). IGI supplied wax to FPC, which…

  • Court Rejects Spoliation Claim in Kellogg Recall Case

    A Michigan federal court has denied a motion filed by FPC Flexible Packaging Corp. and The International Group, Inc. to dismiss evidence for spoliation in a case accusing the packaging company and the wax maker of providing Kellogg defective cereal liners, resulting in a $70 million recall. Kellogg Co. v. FPC Flexible Packaging Corp., No. 11-272…

  • Heinz “Dip & Squeeze” Case Revived by Third Circuit

    The Third Circuit has reversed a Michigan district court’s dismissal in a case alleging that H.J. Heinz Co. stole the idea for the “Dip & Squeeze” ketchup packet from plaintiff David Wawrzynski, an inventor who had proposed the idea to the company in 2008. Wawrzynski v. H.J. Heinz Co., No. 13-4100 (3d Cir., order entered…

  • Settlement over False Halal Ads for McDonald’s Chicken Approved

    According to a news source, a Michigan state court has approved a settlement of claims that a McDonald’s franchisee falsely advertised some of its chicken products as halal, or prepared in accordance with Muslim dietary restrictions. Ahmed v. Finley’s Mgmt. Co., No. 11-014559-CZ (Mich. Cir. Ct., Wayne Cty., settlement approved April 17, 2013). The settlement…

  • Halal Fraud Settlement Critic Now Free to Oppose It on Facebook

    According to a news source, a Michigan judge has lifted a gag order imposed on an attorney who posted information on his Facebook page critical of a proposed settlement of claims that a McDonald’s Corp. franchisee sold as halal certain chicken products without complying with Islamic standards; the court has also granted his request to…

  • Lawyer Silenced by Court in Halal Fraud Suit Claims Unlawful Prior Restraint

    The Dearborn, Michigan-based attorney who was ordered to remove statements from his Facebook® page opposing a proposed class-action settlement in a case raising allegations that a McDonald’s Corp. franchisee purported to sell halal chicken when some of the products were not prepared according to Islamic law has filed a motion to vacate the order and…