Judge dismisses most claims in Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit against Unilever over social activism control

A federal judge dismissed seven of ten claims in Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit accusing former parent Unilever of trying to silence its social activism and dismantle its board. The surviving claims relate to missed payments by Unilever, while the dismissed claims mainly concern Ben & Jerry’s operational independence. The dispute began after Ben & Jerry’s stopped selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2021. Magnum, which now owns Ben & Jerry’s, replaces Unilever as the primary defendant. The case highlights tensions over corporate control and social mission commitments following Unilever’s 2000 acquisition of Ben & Jerry’s.