American Export Lines, Inc. v. J & J Distributing Co.

OPINION

BIUNNO, District Judge.

In each of these two cases, the same group of plaintiffs sue a defendant who was a consignee of goods shipped in ocean transport. The plaintiffs have moved for summary judgment in each case. Each defendant moves for dismissal. The underlying facts and the legal issues raised are exactly the same in both cases, thus making it possible to dispose of all four pending motions in this ruling.

The facts.

Each of the defendants is an importer and distributor of alcoholic beverages. Over the period of time covered by the complaints, each defendant received shipments of…