Chipotle Mexican Grill

June 2014: Pursuant to an agreement reached by the parties, a federal judge entered a judgment in favor of Chipotle. More details about the agreement have not been disclosed.

December 2013: A federal judge determined that a class-action lawsuit filed against Chipotle Mexican Grill could not proceed because there were not enough common issues among all the class members. The complaint, originally filed in June 2012, alleged that the restaurant advertises its meat as coming from “naturally raised” animals (i.e., animals that are never given antibiotics or added hormones, and are raised responsibly) when, in fact, some or all of its meat comes from “conventionally raised” animals (i.e., animals treated with antibiotics, artificially supplied with hormones, and/or subjected to cruel treatment). The judge, who denied class certification, decided that there were too many variables for the case to be treated as a class action (e.g., when class members ate at Chipotle, the exact location where they ate, and which meat they ate). (Hernandez et al v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., Case No. 12-cv-5543, C.D. Cal.).