McLibel: Burger Culture on Trial

Dubbed ""McLibel""--the libel case that the McDonald's fast-food chain filed in 1990 against two supporters of London Greenpeace for distributing critical leaflets--was the U.K.'s longest trial and, judging from this account, a textbook example of the shortcomings of British law and corporate legal tactics, shows Vidal, environmental reporter for the Guardian of London. He provides a full, if not exhaustive, portrait of the case, with a clear sympathy toward the defendants, Helen Steel and Dave Morris, and their critique of McDonald's environmental, nutritional, advertising and employment record. (Corporate McDonald's refused to be interviewed by Vidal.) British law does not require plaintiffs to prove injury but defendants to prove truth, with ""primary sources"" like witnesses, forcing Steel and Morris into near-farcical situations in court. The recent verdict gave McDonald's a Pyrrhic victory; the company decided against collecting its $98,000 judgment; worse, the judge agreed publicly with the critique of McDonald's nutritional, wage and advertising policies. The book has a hasty air; nevertheless, the McLibel support campaign, formed in 1990, has grown steadily, and there is even a McLibel Web site that has disseminated criticism and organized opponents far beyond those pesky leaflets. Photos not seen by PW. (Nov.)