Fairlife Class Action Says Milk Comes From Abused Cows

A class action lawsuit claims that Fairlife LLC, owners of Fair Oaks Farms, abuse their dairy cows, contrary to the advertisements on their milk products.

The Fair Oaks Farms class action lawsuit was filed by Andrew Schwartz and Alice Vitiello who say they purchased the milk on multiple occasions at least in part because it is advertised as being produced in a way that is humane to animals. 

Schwartz and Vitiello say they were financially injured by Fairlife’s misrepresentations of the products because had they known that Fairlife’s cows were abused and not treated in the manner represented in advertisements, they would not have purchased the milk at all or they would have paid less for it than they did.

Allegedly, Fairlife states both on its website and its products that the cows are treated with “the utmost care,” and with “extraordinary care and comfort.” The plaintiffs say these claims are made repeatedly and are stressed throughout the product’s advertising.

The Fairlife cow mistreatment class action lawsuit asserts that Fairlife uses these claims as part of their marketing because they know that customers are attracted to products they believe have high ethical standards associated with them.

Allegedly, in the case of dairy products, the treatment of animals is of concern to consumers, and they are willing to pay more for milk from companies who treat animals well.

The Fairlife milk class action lawsuit goes on to say that Fairlife knows this about consumers, and charges a premium for its milk, based on the representations.

However, this marketing and the profits the company gained from them are fraudulent, according to Schwartz and Vitiello. They say that in reality, the cows are badly mistreated.

The customers note that earlier this month, the not-for profit animal welfare organization Animal Recovery Mission posted an exposé online detailing the many instances of animal cruelty that take place at Fair Oaks Farms.

Fair Oaks Farms is the “flagship farm” of the Fairlife brand, according to the customers. Additionally, Animal Recovery Mission also presented a written report of their findings, according to the customers.

Animal Recovery Mission representatives allegedly witnessed Fairlife employees “throwing, slapping, and kicking calves.” Allegedly, there is video recording of this conduct. Animal Recovery Mission also reportedly witnessed calves being starved to death, beaten with steel bars, and being burned with branding irons.

The Fairlife animal cruelty class action lawsuit goes on to say that Animal Recovery Mission witnessed grown cows being mistreated. Allegedly, some cows who could no longer produce milk were shot and left to die, a process which sometimes took “multiple hours.”

Allegedly, the owner of Fair Oaks Farms, who is also a part-owner of Fairlife admitted to the practices witnessed and says he takes “full responsibility.” Schwartz and Vitiello assert that despite this admission, the company continues to treat the cows cruelly, and has not changed its practices.

The customers are represented by Carl V. Malmstrom, Jeffrey G. Smith, and Matthew M. Guiney of Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLC.

The Fairlife Milk Cow Cruelty Class Action Lawsuit is Andrew Schwartz, et al. v. Fairlife LLC, Case No. 1:19-cv-03929, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

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