Breaking news from The Daily Record:
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A judge says Michigan liquor commissioners are immune to a lawsuit over a beer with a name that’s offensive to some people.
The state’s Liquor Control Commission reversed course in 2011 and let Flying Dog Brewery sell an ale called Raging B—-. But the Frederick, Md., brewery still continued to sue commissioners for censorship for keeping the product off shelves until that time.
Federal Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids last week ruled in favor of the commissioners, saying they serve in a judicial function and are immune to a lawsuit. A message seeking comment was left Monday with Flying Dog’s attorney.
When the beer was temporarily blocked in 2009, Michigan officials said they could reject labels that are detrimental to the welfare of the public.
UPDATE 7/3 From DelmarvaNow:
GRAND RAPIDS — A Maryland brewery says it plans to appeal a federal judge’s decision that Michigan liquor commissioners are immune to a lawsuit over a beer with a name that’s offensive to some people.
The Michigan Liquor Control Commission reversed course in 2011 and let Flying Dog Brewery sell an ale called Raging B----.
The Frederick, Md., brewery continued to sue commissioners, saying its First Amendment rights were violated and it lost money during the time the 2009 ban was in effect.
Federal Judge Robert Jonker (YONK’-uhr) in Grand Rapids last week ruled in favor of the commissioners, saying they serve in a judicial function and are immune to a lawsuit.
Brewery lawyer Alan Gura says he’s disappointed at the decision and says the now-lifted ban violated its free-speech rights.
0 comments (click to read or post):
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment...I do moderate each comment so it may not appear immediately...and please be nice! You can also comment using Disqus (below) or even comment directly on Facebook (bottom).