A Chino meatpacker that supplied beef for the National School Lunch Program knowingly slaughtered and processed "downer" cattle -- animals too hurt or sick to stand -- at least once every six weeks for nearly four years, the federal government claims in a lawsuit.
The U.S. Department of Justice action filed in federal court seeks damages from individuals and corporations associated with the now-closed Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., which gained international attention when undercover videos showed cows being abused at the plant in late 2007.
The action filed in Riverside Federal Court also claims Westland/Hallmark purposely hid from legal disclosure a partner who was a twice-convicted felon.
Read the story... | Source: Press Enterprise | Posted: 9/24/09
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