THE LAWSUIT: Beef Products Inc. filed a defamation lawsuit against ABC News for its coverage of a meat product that critics have dubbed "pink slime," alleging that the network misled consumers into believing that the product is unhealthy and unsafe.

THE DETAILS: The meat processor is seeking $1.2 billion in damages for roughly 200 "false and misleading and defamatory" statements about the product officially known as lean, finely textured beef.

THE RESPONSE: ABC News, owned by The Walt Disney Co., said that the lawsuit is without merit and that it will contest it vigorously.