Irish Liquor Lawyer Submits Amicus Brief in the 4th Circuit
I recently submitted an Amicus brief in the 4th Circuit, supporting a request for an en banc hearing of the 4th Circuit’s decision in B-21 Wines v. Bauer, which upheld North Carolina’s discriminatory wine retailer shipping law.
The amicus focused on the 4th […]
CALIFORNIA DTC SPIRITS SHIPPING: TIME FOR A REFERENDUM
California’s referendum system allows the chance to put a question to the voters on whether they want changes to state laws or to even recall governors. After the latest version of the spirits DTC shipping bill, maybe it is time to admit that the […]
The Great Guy LaFleur dies, I can’t celebrate this life properly
In my formative years of watching hockey, I had two favorite players, the great Tony Esposito and Montreal Canadiens legend, Guy LaFleur.
I am saddened by his passing and I pray for him and his family. Along with mourning his death, I want […]
I am set to speak on the R Street Institute Panel about DTC liquor shipping next Wednesday April 20th at 12:00pm Eastern.
Joining me on the panel will be Bob Esptein, Mr. Epstein is involved in the wine retailer shipping challenges and State Rep. Adam Koening of Kentucky who sponsored the historic DTC alcohol shipping […]
Shockwaves sent through the Liquor system, the Provi lawsuit and its potential impact
This week shockwaves were sent through the liquor legal world when Privo filed an antitrust lawsuit against Southern Wine and Spirits (Southern) and Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC). The complaint takes aim at alleged anti-competitive behavior of Southern and […]
Will the 4th Circuit foreshadow a draw in North Carolina’s wine retailer shipping case?
In sports nobody likes a tie, overtime rules have been implemented in about every major sport to avoid a tie.
In the 4th Circuit oral arguments, the main voice on the panel, made it be known that a tie was the […]
I contributed to Blake Gray’s great piece on New York SLA’s decision on refusal to grant a retail liquor license on absurd grounds.
Playing economic Nostradamus SLA believed the store wouldn’t make money so they denied the license. They also ridiculed the applicant because “All the money appears to be coming from your wife, correct?”
Beyond […]
Great to contribute to Blake Gray’s fantastic piece on the U.S. Treasury’s report on alcohol reform, which was much needed. What better way to make your 60th media appearance than being part of this article
The Year the Battle begins
2020 and 2021 were interesting years in the liquor world, so what kind of encore will we have in 2022. Only the future will tell, but looking into the crystal ball, I see a year of great activity that could turn the liquor markets into different directions.
Seventh Circuit Oral Argument
Last Friday, oral arguments took place before the 7th Circuit, in Chicago Wine Company v. Holcomb, which challenges Indiana’s ban on out-of-state retailers delivering wine into the state or using common carriers to ship product. The delivery challenge is based on a facially discriminatory statute, which allows Indiana […]