PepsiCo defeats NY AG Letitia James’ ‘predatory’ lawsuit over plastic pollution

PepsiCo defeats New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against the company plastic pollution claim After a judge dismissed the case, criticizing it as predatory.

James couldn’t show it beverage and snack food company Buffalo County Superior Court Judge Emilio Colaiacovo said Thursday that he is causing public trouble with his single-use plastic packaging.

Colaiacovo, a Republican, ruled that punishing PepsiCo would be “contrary to every norm of established jurisprudence” because people, not the company, ignored littering laws.

“While I cannot think of a reasonable person who does not believe in the need to recycle and better protect our environment, this does not lead to fanciful claims of liability that do nothing to solve the problem at hand,” Colaiacovo wrote.

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A judge dismissed New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against PepsiCo. (Mario Tama/Getty Images/Getty Images)

“The judicial system should not be burdened with predatory trials aimed at punishing while searching for guilt,” he added.

James’ lawsuit alleged that PepsiCo misled the public about the effectiveness of plastic recycling and its efforts to combat plastic pollution. (Reuters / Fox News)

A spokesman for James said the attorney general’s office was disappointed in the decision and was reviewing its options but was committed to protecting communities from plastic pollution, calling it “a major threat to our planet and public health.”

The judge criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James’ decision to dismiss the case against PepsiCo. (Mike Segar-Pool/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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James A lawsuit was filed against PepsiCo Last November, he alleged that the company was endangering Buffalo’s water supply with plastic waste and deceiving the public about its efforts to combat plastic pollution.

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Los Angeles County is also suing PepsiCo over the company’s alleged role in plastic pollution, after filing suit on Wednesday.

Reuters contributed to this report.