million by a jury in 1997. The award was later reduced by a judge to $316,000. The verdict was then largely overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia. According to the court: even though ABC was wrong to do what they had done, Food Lion was not suing for defamation, but rather for tort as a way to get around the strict First Amendment standards for defamation. Food Lion did this because the company was not contesting the truth of anything ABC reported in the broadcast. However, the appellate court upheld the finding that the producers involved breached their duty of loyalty as employees to Food Lion, and had trespassed, awarding a nominal $2 fine. See also Mega Image References External links Ahold Delhaize Companies based in North Carolina American companies established in 1957 Retail companies established in 1957 Salisbury, North Carolina Supermarkets of the United States 1957 establishments in North Carolina 1974 mergers and acquisitions American subsidiaries of foreign companies Lions in popular culture Fictional lions