Wine logistics spat
AMC USA, Inc., a New Jersey-based non-vessel-operating common carrier, has filed a complaint at the Federal Maritime Commission against International First Service USA (IFS USA), Global Wine Logistics USA Inc. (GWL USA), and affiliated companies along with one of its executives.
AMC complains the companies engaged in a 'willful and deliberate fraudulent scheme to steal customers, employees and proprietary information' from AMC in order to gain an unfair business advantage and/or in order to provide ocean transportation for property for less than the rates and/or charges that would otherwise have applied. It claims the firms violated the Shipping Act of 1984.
AMC names Anita McNeil, now president of IFS USA and GWL USA, and a former executive vice president of AMC, as a respondent.
AMC claims it suffered 'injury involving customer relations, its reputation in the industry and has been forced to take legal action.' It wants the FMC to order the respondents to “cease and desist” from violations of the shipping act, deny them OTI licenses and award AMC at least $283,918.95 in reparations.
The FMC said it has assigned the complaint to its Office of Administrative Law Judges.