Should journalists be afraid to publish news about any controversy regarding food products? Lawyers for ABC News don't think so — and they moved in state court October 31, 2012, to dismiss a $1 billion defamation lawsuit by the makers of a product critics had dubbed "pink slime."

South Dakota meat processor Beef Products, Inc., had sued ABC, some of its anchors and correspondents, and a USDA microbiologist under South Dakota law. The company said it would oppose the motion to dismiss.

• "ABC News Asks Judge To Toss ‘Pink Slime’ Libel Suit," [2] Associated Press, November 1, 2012.
• Previous Story: WatchDog of September 19, 2012. [3]