The government is suing a Southern California slaughterhouse for abusing cattle that led to the nation's biggest beef recall last year.
The Department of Justice says it is joining in the Humane Society of the United States' lawsuit against Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co.
The federal lawsuit claims the slaughterhouse, which supplied ground beef for school lunches across the nation, defrauded the government by certifying the meat came from cows that were treated humanely. However, undercover video showed workers at the slaughterhouse abused sick or crippled cows.
The lawsuit seeks to recover about $150 million in taxpayer money spent on disabled "downer" cows for the National School Lunch Program.
The slaughterhouse closed after the February 2008 recall.
