How would you like to be Taco Bell's GC? You would have to deal with CEO Greg Creed, a unique executive if there ever was one.
Taco Bell is contemplating suing Beasley Allen, the Alabama law firm that filed a case alleging it falsely advertised about the make-up of its meat. The case was quietly withdrawn last week after "changes in marketing and product disclosure were made" by Taco Bell, the firm said.
Taco Bell certainly hasn't taken this matter lying down. The chain says they haven't changed anything about their meat, and has launched a semi-nasty campaign against Beasley Allen making this very clear. The enormous "Would it kill you to say you're sorry?" campaign included full-page ads in USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other newspapers.
The Taco Bell ads contradicted Beasley Allen explanation for dropping the lawsuit, saying the firm voluntarily withdrew the suit despite there being "no changes to our products or ingredients, no changes to our advertising, no money exchanged, no settlement agreement," WSJ reports.
"They were very available and very outspoken when the lawsuit was filed. Now you can't find them; you can't talk to anyone. No one will return calls," Creed told the WSJ Law Blog.
Greg Creed said in the coming weeks the company executives will be meeting with its franchise partners to decide whether to take any legal action against Beasley Allen, WSJ reports.
Related Resources:
- The Lawsuit's in the Past, But Taco Bell is Still on the Offensive (Wall Street Journal)
- What is false advertising? (FindLaw)
- Taco Bell Lawsuit: 'Meat Filling' in Tacos is not Actual Meat (FindLaw's Common Law)