Suits accuse dairy company of consumer fraud for touting 'extraordinary care and comfort' of cows
Photo from Flickr.com.
Two lawsuits filed in federal court in Chicago accuse the Fairlife milk company of consumer fraud for promoting its “extraordinary care and comfort” of dairy cows.
The would-be class actions, filed June 11 and June 12, cite mistreatment of cows at the company’s northwest Indiana dairy, Fair Oaks Farms, that came to light with the release of undercover videos. The Chicago Tribune and NWI.com covered the June 11 suit.
The videos were shot by investigators with Animal Recovery Mission, who obtained jobs at Fair Oaks Farms. The animal welfare group released a third video Wednesday.
The suits claim that consumers paid a premium for Fairlife milk because of the company’s representations that its animals are treated humanely. That representation is “a sham,” according to the June 11 suit filed by Alain Michael of Thousand Oaks, California.
Photo from the June 11 lawsuit.
“As a matter of routine and practice, Fairlife’s cows are tortured, kicked, stomped on, body slammed, stabbed with steel rebar, thrown off the side of trucks, dragged through the dirt by their ears, and left to die in over 100-degree heat,” the June 11 suit alleges. “Calves that do not survive the torture are dumped in mass graves.”
The plaintiffs in the second suit, Andrew Schwartz of Homewood, Illinois, and Alice Vitiello of Newbury Center, Ohio, also cite mistreatment observed by investigators for Animal Recovery Mission. The suit said calves had been thrown, slapped, kicked and starved, while older cows that could no longer produce milk were shot and left to die.
A statement issued by Fairlife CEO Mike St. John said the company is dedicated to the humane and compassionate care of animals, and it is taking action to ensure high standards of care.
One of the company owners, Mike McCloskey, has said employees responsible for abuse have been fired, and security cameras will be installed at Fair Oaks Farms anywhere that cows interact with people. He also said animal welfare groups will make unannounced visits to the farm.
Three of the workers were charged with the beating of a vertebrate animal, a misdemeanor. One of the workers was arrested Wednesday, and two others were being sought by law enforcement.
