Live Webcast Launches IJ Wine Suit

IJ hosted a live National Press Club webcast to uncork its lawsuit challenging New York's restrictions on interstate wine sales.

More than 700 individuals clicked in on February 3 to watch our announcement seeking the repeal of New York State laws prohibiting the direct shipment of wine to consumers from out-of-state wineries. Hosting the media conference on the Internet was particularly appropriate considering New York also prohibits all advertising-including Internet advertising-for wines by out-of-state producers.

Among the participants at the event were IJ's Litigation Director Clint Bolick, Attorney Deborah Simpson and President Chip Mellor; vintner/plaintiff Juanita Swedenburg, owner of Swedenburg Winery in Middleburg, Virginia; New York consumer Dr. Patrick Fitzgerald, a physician from Elmira, New York; and William Kinzler from the Coalition for Free Trade.