B.C. liquor branch sues for more than $400K for frozen, damaged European liquor
The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch is among two others in a civil case trying to reclaim more than $400,000 after its products froze on the way from Europe.
Thousands of wine and alcoholic drinks froze in transit last year, leading the B.C. and Alberta liquor commissions, along with a Richmond shipping company to sue Montreal-based L. Simard Transport in Kelowna Supreme Court.
At least 6,600 cases were damaged when they froze and expanded the bottles, according to court documents.
Four claims were launched from Nov. 9 to Dec. 13, in which the Montreal-based company is accused of putting the liquor bottles in unheated containers during a cross-country trip. L. Simard Transport was under contract to use heated containers, according to court documents.
READ MORE: Nurses at Kelowna health facility suing over ‘discriminatory’ pay gap
Kelowna lawyer Barry Oland launched the claims on behalf of the three plaintiffs.
Both liquor branches were awaiting orders from at least three separate European countries, including Italy, France and Switzerland.
From each country, the orders were carried across the Atlantic by separate shipping companies, so each claim was filed separately.
It's possible the liquor froze while on their oceanic voyage, but they were all shipped across Canada by L. Simard Transport once they got to Montreal.
READ MORE: Kelowna’s Stacey Roy wins 'LEGO Masters' Season 3
None of the claims say whether the orders were found to be frozen in Alberta or B.C. They also don't specify whether the more than $430,000 in costs included the wine and liquor or was simply for shipping costs.
Oland refused to clarify when contacted by iNFOnews.ca.
The most recent claim was filed on Dec. 13, but L. Simard Transport hasn't yet responded to any of them in court, according to court records.
The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission and Richmond-based shipping company Container World Forwarding Services are seeking more than $400,000 in damages and other costs the court may later decide.
None of the claims have been proven.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
