Second Little Caesars Lawsuit Seeks More Than $100M

(UPDATED) DEARBORN, MI — A second lawsuit has been filed against Little Caesars, again alleging Muslim customers were sold pizzas with pork pepperoni after they had ordered what was advertised as halal pizzas. Halal meat is prepared as prescribed by Muslim law.

The second lawsuit is seeking more than $100 million in damages and was filed by Dearborn residents Michelle Meade said her husband Ali Bazzi Saturday in Wayne County Circuit Court. The lawsuit is also seeking class action status, saying thousands of people were sold falsely labeled pizzas, according to a WDIV-TV report.

The lawsuit stems from purchases made at a Schaefer Road Little Caesars. It alleges Meade purchased the phony halal pizza on March 20 while Bazzi had purchased the product on numerous occasions over the past five years, WDIV-TV reported. Specifically, the new lawsuit alleges:

• Breach of conduct
• Negligent misrepresentation
• Unjust enrichment
• Fraud
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Assault and battery
• Negligence
• Respondeat superior

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The new litigation comes just a day after Little Caesars fired back at its original accuser, Mohamad Bazzi. Both lawsuits were brought by attorney Majed Moughni.

On Friday, Little Caesars announced that it had completed its own investigation of the incident and believes Bazzi’s claims are unfounded. Michael Huget, an attorney for the company, shared the results of the investigation with Bazzi’s attorney, who initially said his client would drop the case. But Majed Moughni later recanted and told the Detroit Free Press Bazzi would continue with the lawsuit.

That didn’t sit well with Little Caesars or Huget. “In light of Mr. Moughni’s about-face on his decision to dismiss the Bazzi lawsuit, we will be vigorously pursuing counterclaims and seeking sanctions,” Huget said in a statement.

"The complaint he filed has serious factual errors and critical omissions, which we plan to bring to the court’s attention promptly. I know that Little Caesars takes great pride in the commitment they’ve shown to their customers and communities for almost six decades. We are confident the court will recognize this for what it is: a frivolous lawsuit,” Huget said in the statement.

Bazzi’s suit, which alleges breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and fraud, was filed in Wayne County Circuit Court on May 25. For his part, Moughni told the Free Press that he emailed Huget directly with the information that his client would continue the lawsuit — and similar lawsuits would soon be filed on behalf of others.

“Little Caesars cherishes our customers from all religions and cultures, and the communities we serve are very important to us,” Jill Proctor, Little Caesars Spokesperson, said in the statement after Bazzi’s suit was filed. “While we can’t comment on pending litigation, we take this claim very seriously. At this time, we believe it is without merit.”