Jury Confusion Insufficient for New Trial in Wine Maker Dispute

A vineyard owner who alleged his former business partner stole valuable business opportunities when starting his own wine company failed to convince the Seventh Circuit he deserved a new trial based on inconsistencies in the jury’s verdict.

Gerald Forsythe, owner of Continental Vineyard LLC, said Randy Dzierzawski started a competing business, Vinifera Wine Co. LLC, while still serving as Continental’s vice president. Vinifera paid Continental to bottle, store, and ship wine under the Vinifera label, the suit said.

According to Dzierzawski, he started Vinifera after Forsythe turned down repeated offers to branch out into wine production.

Forsythe sued Dzierzawski and ...