Judge dismisses seven claims in Ben & Jerry's lawsuit against Unilever

August 22, 2026 at 05:36 AM2 min

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A federal judge dismissed seven claims and part of an eighth in Ben & Jerry's 10-count lawsuit accusing Unilever of silencing its social activism. The ruling leaves two claims intact related to alleged missed payments, while Magnum replaces Unilever as the primary defendant.

Key Facts

Judge Kevin Castel dismissed seven claims and part of an eighth in the 10-count complaint.
Magnum will take Unilever's place as the primary defendant in the case.
The two surviving claims relate to missed payments by Unilever, including $2.5 million to Ben & Jerry's and $2 million for Palestinian almond farmers.
Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of censoring its speech, including planned criticism of President Donald Trump.

Ruling Details

U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan dismissed seven claims and part of an eighth in the 10-count complaint filed by Ben & Jerry's and various independent directors. The dismissed claims relate primarily to how Ben & Jerry's operates, while the two claims that survived in full relate to missed payments by Unilever. Castel also said Magnum, the Amsterdam-based company that has owned Ben & Jerry's since it was spun off from Unilever last year, will take Unilever's place as the primary defendant.

Allegations and Background

Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of violating the 2000 merger agreement by censoring its speech, which has included protests against the war in Gaza, and ousting a chief executive who supported the company's social activism. The alleged censorship also included an effort to suppress planned criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump as he began his second White House term. In addition, Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of violating a 2022 settlement over the sale of trademark rights in Israel by failing to pay $2.5 million to Ben & Jerry's and $2 million to support Palestinian almond farmers. Unilever denied censoring Ben & Jerry's and said the former chief executive voluntarily resigned.