Judge Strikes Down CA “Successor Manufacturer” Code

Dear Client:  California craft brewer Anderson Valley won a brand rights dispute brought by Reyes Holdings subsidiary Harbor Distributing (dba Golden Brands), with a state judge ruling the company which acquired the craft brewer was not a “successor beer manufacturer” and therefore not required to pay out the fair market value of distribution rights, even though Mainstreet Capital -- a family ownership group lead by Kevin McGee -- purchased Anderson Valley in 2019.  Crucially, the court found that since Mainstreet