Unilever (UL) said that former Ben & Jerry's CEO Dave Stever resigned of his own accord despite better role, and asked a federal court to dismiss the lawsuit, Reuters reported Friday, citing a company statement.

Ben & Jerry's sued Unilever in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging the company suppressed its political activism, including criticism of war in Gaza and US President Donald Trump.

Unilever reportedly said the lawsuit stems from actions by Ben & Jerry's Chair Anuradha Mittal, who it claims harmed the company's reputation and strained investor confidence. Unilever further accused Mittal of leaking private employment negotiations to the media, Reuters added.

Unilever and Ben & Jerry's did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

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