Oprah Testifies in Beef Slander Trial

Testifying in Amarillo in the $10.3-million lawsuit filed against her by Texas cattlemen, Oprah Winfrey said she had little to do with putting together an episode on mad cow disease, relying instead on a “team of producers.” The talk show host, her production company and vegetarian activist Howard Lyman are being sued for slander over the April 1996 show. The cattlemen contend the show caused already slumping cattle prices to fall to 10-year lows. Joe Coyne, an attorney for the cattlemen, suggested Winfrey was especially influential on food issues. But Winfrey, who swore off hamburgers during the show, said viewers are smart enough to make up their own minds about what to eat.