WASHINGTON — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) today issued a strong statement of support for the decision by U.S. District Judge Mia Roberts Perez of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to deny Morgan & Morgan’s bid to revive its meritless ultra-processed food lawsuit, Martinez v. Kraft Heinz Co., et al. The ruling is a decisive rebuke of a litigation strategy built not on science or evidence, but on the prospect of a massive payday for plaintiff attorneys.
“Judge Perez recognized that American courts should not be alternative legislatures and weaponized by billboard lawyers looking to manufacture liability where none exists,” said ILR President Stephen Waguespack. “This is now the second time this case has been rejected, and for good reason. There is no causation, no credible evidence, and no legitimate legal theory — only a law firm seeking to pad its reported $2.4 billion revenue stream.”
Judge Perez originally dismissed the lawsuit in August 2025, calling it “woefully deficient.” This week, Judge Perez went further, denying Morgan & Morgan’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint. The proposed amended complaint suffered from the same fatal defects as the original. As the court made clear, the law does not recognize industry-wide liability, and a plaintiff cannot simply cast a wide net over an entire sector of the economy and demand that companies prove their innocence.
This ruling affirms a foundational principle of our legal system: when a party can’t prove causation between a product and injury, courts are not an appropriate alternative for seeking sweeping policy changes that belong in the legislative and regulatory process.
ILR will continue to monitor this situation and any copycat litigation closely and advocate for a legal system that demands real evidence, real causation, and real accountability for plaintiffs and their attorneys.
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) is the country’s most influential and successful advocate for civil justice reform, both in the U.S. and abroad.
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations.
They all share one thing: They count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, across the country, and around the world. For more than 100 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy.