Fireball Whisky maker Sazerac Co. hit back at litigation alleging it misleadingly portrays its Fireball Cinnamon malt beverage as the same thing, saying the lead plaintiffs lack standing to pursue their proposed class suits and in any event, the labels aren’t confusing.
Damien Patterson sued in a California federal court, and Anna Marquez sued in Illinois. Both alleged that Sazerac tricks retail purchasers into thinking “Fireball Cinnamon” malt beverage is a mini-version of the company’s flagship Fireball Whisky when it’s just a whisky-flavored product with a lower alcohol content.
The plaintiffs’ allegations don’t show that either one actually bought Fireball ...