Coalition for Free Trade Retains Kenneth W. Starr to Advance Wine Direct Shipping Litigation Strategy.Business Editors/Food/Wine writers SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2003 The Coalition for Free Trade, a non-profit organization A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. seeking judicial relief from laws prohibiting the direct shipment of wine from wineries to adult wine consumers, has retained Kenneth W. Starr, former Solicitor General An officer of the U.S. Justice Department who represents the federal government in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. The solicitor general is charged with representing the Executive Branch of the U.S. government in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , former United States Circuit Judge, and currently a partner in Kirkland & Ellis. (www.coalitionforfreetrade.org) With four consecutive U.S. District Court victories propelling the wine direct shipping issue, CFT CFT complement fixation test; see under fixation. CFT complement fixation test. and its attorneys will consult with Judge Starr and his Kirkland & Ellis colleagues to advance its coordinated legal strategy. Winery and consumer plaintiffs are working under the umbrella of the CFT to challenge state prohibitions on direct, interstate wine shipments in New York, Texas New York is a hamlet in Henderson County, Texas, USA, about 11 miles east of Athens. Geography New York lies at the intersection of FM 804 and FM 607 in a stereotypically flat portion of East Texas, surrounded mostly by farm land. , Florida, Virginia, North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. , and Michigan. The CFT's goal is to resolve the issue in the Supreme Court. "In this David versus Goliath struggle, David's slingshot (networking, business, tool, product, protocol) Slingshot - CSK Software's real time financial server for the Internet. Slingshot allows the delivery of real time market data across the Internet and private intranets quickly, cheaply and securely. was just upgraded," said Tracy Genesen, grape grower, legal director of the CFT, and senior counsel at Hyde, Miller, Owen & Trost, of Sacramento. Attorneys representing the consumer and winery plaintiffs welcome Judge Starr's considerable experience and knowledge as the litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. effort evolves toward a Supreme Court review. A grant from the Family Winemakers of California, a non-profit association of more than 600 wineries, will fund Judge Starr's involvement in the next stage of the industry's litigation strategy (www.familywinemakers.org). "From the beginning, Family Winemakers of California and consumers have recognized the long term benefits of greater choice," said Paul Kronenberg, president of FWC FWC Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Florida) FWC Foster Wheeler Corporation (Clinton, NJ) FWC Family Winemakers of California FWC Fresh Water Cooling FWC Flight Warning Computer . "This cause continues to gain momentum, as well as proactive support from wineries of all sizes," he added. From 1989 to 1993, Judge Starr served as Solicitor General of the United States, where he argued 25 cases before the Supreme Court involving a wide range of governmental regulatory and constitutional issues of commercial importance. His experience, success, and reputation as a champion of free trade reflects the wine industry's commitment to resolve the issue for the benefit of America's 2,700 mostly family-owned farm wineries, and the nation's adult wine consumers who want to choose which wines they enjoy. (A biography of Judge Starr available at www.kirkland.com) "This issue strikes at the heart of protectionist legislation that the Commerce Clause was designed to avoid," said Judge Starr. "Our plan is to parlay the recent direct shipping victories into a winning strategy that ultimately supports wineries and consumer choice," he added. A 'wine war' is pitting America's wine lovers -- who want to purchase and receive wine directly from wineries -- against wine wholesaler middlemen, who want all sales to flow through their coffers. Twenty-two states currently allow limited interstate direct shipments. Of the 28 remaining states, wine wholesalers have successfully supported legislation in seven states that established a felony penalty for shipping a bottle of wine to an adult 21 years or older. The Coalition for Free Trade is a non-profit organization seeking judicial relief from laws prohibiting the direct shipment of wine. The CFT is assisting winery and consumer plaintiffs with six lawsuits in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, and Virginia. For more information, visit www.coalitionforfreetrade.org Note to Editors: Photograph of Genesen available Judge Starr's biography at www.kirkland.com |
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