CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - An Indiana wine dealer and two consumers are suing Illinois government officials, alleging discrimination on what wines can be sold to Illinois consumers.
Lebamoff Enterprises Inc., Joseph Doust and Irwin Berkley of Cook County, Illinois, filed a lawsuit Sept. 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, state Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois Liquor Control Commission Chairwoman Constance Beard and liquor board executive director U-Jong Choe, alleging they illegally prohibit wines ordered from other states to be delivered to Illinois consumers.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs suffered financial damages from being prohibited to purchase wine outside the state of Illinois. The plaintiffs allege the defendants implemented a law wherein Illinois consumers cannot buy wine directly from another business and have it shipped to their home.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration that Illinois laws 235 IL ST 5/5-1(d) and 235 IL ST 5/6-29.1 (b) are unconstitutional, an injunction against the defendants prohibiting them from enforcing those statutes, all legal fees and all other relief the court deems just.
They are represented by attorneys Robert D. Epstein and James A. Tanford of Epstein Cohen Seif & Porter in Indianapolis.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Case number 1:16-cv-08607