UNION COUNTY, SD – Lawyers for ABC News filed court papers asking to transfer a defamation lawsuit from a state court in South Dakota to a federal court in the state, according to Reuters.

Beef Products Inc. (BPI) filed a defamation lawsuit Sept. 13 against ABC News alleging the network’s news coverage of lean finely textured beef (LFTB) misled consumers to believe the company’s product was unhealthy and unsafe. The company is seeking more than $1 billion in compensatory and statutory damages, plus unspecified punitive damages.

ABC News, which is owned by The Walt Disney Co., denied the claims.

The network filed a removal notice to transfer the case to the federal district court for the District of South Dakota, Southern Division from Union County Circuit Court in South Dakota.