The lawsuit, filed by the Marler Clark law firm on behalf of the family of Robert Danell, blames the companies for the sale of “unreasonably dangerous” food that led to Danell’s death in 2010.

Judge Lawrence L. Piersol recused himself from the case that is being heard in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.

Lawyers for the U.S. network said a September lawsuit by Beef Products Inc. (BPI) seeks to inhibit free speech.

The suit named American Broadcasting Companies Inc. and ABC News Inc. as defendants, as well as reporters Diane Sawyer, Jim Avila and David Kerley as well as Gerald Zirnstein, Carl Custer and Kit Foshee, all of whom contributed to the alleged defamatory broadcasts.

BPI is alleging that the network misled consumers to believe its lean finely textured beef was unhealthy and unsafe.

Beef Products Inc., BPI Technology Inc. and Freezing Machines Inc. will hold a press conference today to announce a major lawsuit regarding defamation of its beef product, lean finely textured beef.

In recent months, the beef industry in general, and BPI in particular, have fallen victim to a cultural and media firestorm that continues to do damage to the food industry.

The job cuts are directly attributable to the backlash the company has received as a result of food activists protesting its lean finely textured beef, which they characterized as “pink slime.”

The company had suspended operations at those plants in the wake of the “pink slime” controversy that targeted its lean finely textured beef product.

Beef Products Inc said it agrees with a Department of Agriculture ruling that packing companies can label the product as such on labels for ground beef that contains it.