Jim Beam Parent Sheds 50 Cent’s Overcharging Conspiracy Claims

50 Cent’s alcohol brand lost its bid to revive part of a suit against Beam Suntory alleging a conspiracy to overcharge for supplies and dole out kickbacks.

New York’s intermediate appellate court affirmed the state district court’s decision tossing some of Sire Spirits’ claims against the Jim Beam parent company. Those claims, for conspiracy to commit fraud and aiding and abetting fraud, were based on its theory that a third party, Michael Caruso, was acting on Beam’s behalf.

Sire claims Caruso, acting as a Beam representative, connected Sire with an alcohol consultant, Mitchell Green, who oversaw a scheme where suppliers ...