Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 30, 1993 TAG: 9310300094
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
The action came three days after Haft asked the board to rescind the restraining order because it was causing "irreparable injury" to his business, Total Beverage Corp. of Chantilly.
The order was lifted pending a full hearing on the case Nov. 12. Haft, chairman of the Dart Group, also has filed a federal lawsuit against the board.
The order, requested by Forman Distributing Co. of Virginia Inc., the largest wine wholesaler in Northern Virginia, had blocked the sale of about $800,000 in California wines from Schieffelin & Somerset Co. to Charlottesville wholesaler E.C. Robins International.
Total Beverage switched some accounts from Forman to Robins this summer because Robins could get a lower price on certain wines.
Haft also filed a price-fixing suit in federal court against Forman and several other Virginia wine companies, including Blue Ridge Beverage Co. Inc. of Salem. The companies have not yet answered the suit.
Barry Forman, chairman and chief executive of Forman Distributing, said it will respond to Haft's allegations at the ABC Board's hearing next month.
Haft began an ad campaign Friday in several Virginia newspapers, repeating the price-fixing charges.
by CNB