Tag: wine
-
Organic Winemaker Faces Prison and Fine for Refusing to Spray Grapes
A French organic winemaker has reportedly appeared in court to answer to charges that he defied an official order to spray his vineyard with a pesticide to prevent the spread of a leafhopper insect believed to be responsible for a devastating bacterial disease that has affected vines in Burgundy’s Côte-d’Or region, where Emmanuel Giboulot produces…
-
Court Imposes Spoliation Sanctions in Wine Infringement Dispute
A federal court in California has granted a motion for sanctions filed by Jackson Family Wines, which brought an infringement action against Diageo North America; an adverse inference instruction will be given to the jury during trial, and the plaintiff will be able to recover the costs of its efforts to secure a Diageo marketing…
-
TTB Updates Gluten Content Labeling Policy
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued a revised interim policy on gluten content statements permitted in wine, distilled spirits and malt beverage labeling and advertising. TTB took the action after reviewing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) final rule on the use of “gluten-free”…
-
Sixth Circuit Upholds Restrictions on Liquor Sales in Kentucky
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has determined that Kentucky has a rational basis for restricting the types of retailers that may be issued licenses to sell liquor and wine, thus ruling that the law does not violate grocers’ equal protection rights. Maxwell’s Pic-Pac, Inc. v. Dehner, Nos. 12-6056, -6057, -6182 (6th Cir., decided January…
-
ITC Rejects Patent-Packaging Infringement Claim Against Liquor and Wine Importers
In the first investigation subject to a pilot program, the International Trade Commission (ITC) has agreed with an administrative law judge (ALJ) that a company alleging infringement of its patents for laminated packaging by the importers of liquor, wine, toys, electronics, and cosmetics failed to show that it had a domestic industry that would be…
-
TTB Modifies Mandatory Labeling for Wine
The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued a final rule amending the mandatory labeling requirements for wine to permit alcohol content “to appear on other labels affixed to the container rather than requiring it to appear on the brand label.” Effective August 9, 2013, the final rule…
-
Discredited Resveratrol Researcher Sues UConn for Wrongful Termination
A scientist who was accused of falsifying data in research on the purported health benefits of red wine has reportedly sued the University of Connecticut, claiming that it wrongfully dismissed him and violated his civil rights in doing so. Das v. Univ. of Conn. Bd. of Trustees, No. 13-6039748 (Conn. Super. Ct., Hartford, filed March…
-
EU Court Issues Ruling on Wine Origin Designation
The General Court of the European Union (EU) has dismissed an annulment action brought by Hungary, seeking to overturn a protected Slovakian designation of origin for wine produced in the Tokaj region which both countries share. Hungary v. Commission, Case T-194/10 (Gen. Ct., decided November 8, 2012). Hungary will have two months to bring an appeal…