A South Dakota man who was laid off by Beef Products, Inc has filed a law suit against ABC News Media Company.
Bruce Smith of Dakota Dunes says ABC had misleading coverage of a product they called "Pink Slime". Smith says ABC's coverage caused 800 people to lose their jobs.
Smith is a licensed attorney and is suing for just $70,000, but he hopes the other 800 BPI employees who lost their jobs will follow suit.
Early this year lawmakers from several states toured the BPI factor in South Sioux City and sampled the lean finely textured beef products.
"Exhibit A" in Smith's lawsuit is the infamous photo which the media called "Pink Slime"; Smith says the photo is not lean finely textured beef and is not a product found at a BPI factory.
"This is the picture that turned into a malignant cancer of food representation disparaging the company's product; unfortunately when something goes out on the Internet, even if you try to retract it later, its there forever," said Smith.
Smith has written a book on the experience entitled "Pink slime Ate my Job." The book is on sale now; Smith says if 100,000 copies are sold, he will give $100,000 to benefit BPI's laid off employees.
