Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                

Kaihari Vs Vino Veritas

Download as doc, pdf, or txt
Download as doc, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 4

(Caption and Title)

COMPLAINT
, MOST RESPECTFULLY STATES THAT; COMES NOW, the plaintiff together with the undersigned
counsel to this most honorable court
Statement of Facts
1. Kaihari Waina Ltd (Kaihari), the CLAIMANT, is a wine merchant specialised in top quality
wines for the collectors and high end gastronomy markets. Over recent years it has
consistently increased its market share in a highly competitive market. Kaihari has developed
a particular expertise in Mediterranean Mata Weltin wines from the Vuachoua region and has
gained a reputation with its customers of being a particularly reliable source. Because of its
high end customer base Kaihari only sells Mata Weltin wines of diamond quality. Diamond
quality Mata Weltin has a minimum alcohol content of 12.5 vol% and has been judged as
being on a par with the best white wines in the world. The wine gets its label diamond from
the diamond lizard which sunbathes on the stonewalls in the Vuachoua region.
2. The RESPONDENT, Vino Veritas Ltd (Vino Veritas), is one of the top vineyards in
Mediterraneo. It is the only vineyard in the Vuachoua region that has won the Mediterranean
gold medal for its diamond Mata Weltin in each of the last five years.
3. Kaihari has sold Vino Veritas diamond Mata Weltin wines for the last 6 years with great
success. The base of the Parties economic relationship is a framework contract concluded
between them on 22 April 2009 [Exhibit C 1]. The framework contract provides in essence
that, every year, CLAIMANT would buy a certain minimum number of bottles from
RESPONDENT which in return committed to deliver bottles up to a maximum amount of
10.000 bottles. The exact amount will be determined every year by orders placed by
CLAIMANT at the end of the year and normally before negotiations with other customers
start.
4. For CLAIMANT the certainty of supply is crucial and part of its business model and success.
The selected group of collectors and high end restaurants around the world which form the
majority of CLAIMANTs customers want a quasiguarantee that they will be supplied with
the high end Mata Weltin wines they order annually. Over the years, Kaihari has always
ordered between 7.500 and 8.500 bottles with a general tendency to increase.
5. Following a series of prizes granted to RESPONDENTs Mata Weltin wines from earlier
vintages in the first months of 2014, by midSeptember 2014 there had been a considerable
increase in preorders from Claimants customers. Consequently, on 4 November 2014,
Kaihari ordered from RESPONDENT the maximum amount of guaranteed bottles under the
contract. Furthermore, it made clear that in addition to those 10.000 bottles of diamond Mata
Weltin from the 2014 vintage it would be willing to buy more and expand the cooperation
with RESPONDENT further [Exhibit C 2].
6. On 1 December 2014, CLAIMANT received a letter from RESPONDENT stating that it would
only deliver 4.500 5.000 bottles of the ordered wine [Exhibit C 3]. The RESPONDENT
claimed that because of the 2014 harvest having yielded a much smaller than usual quantity
of diamond Mata Weltin wines, it was not able to fulfil the CLAIMANTS entire order. Vino
Veritas stated that it had opted to fulfil its contractual obligation with its customers on a pro
rata basis in order to maintain business relationships with all of them.

7. The CLAIMANT, while not denying that the 2014 harvest had yielded less than the normal
quantity has, however, received information that the real reason for the RESPONDENTs
breach of contract was not the shortfall in yield; information from industry sources suggests
that the real reason for not delivering the entire 10.000 bottles has been that the
RESPONDENT has contracted with SuperWines, thereby exceeding its available capacity. The
RESPONDENT, rather than honouring its long standing contract and business relationship
with CLAIMANT, tried to woo SuperWines, an international wine wholesaler which has
recently started to expand into the high end market by delivering the soughtafter quantity
of its high end wine on demand without delay. However, not only did RESPONDENT want to
establish a new business relationship, RESPONDENT also used the opportunity to make a
larger profit. Reports published in industry journals around that time suggest that
SuperWines paid a premium for the wine [Exhibit C 4].
8. The RESPONDENTs letter received on 1 December 2014 came as an unpleasant surprise to
CLAIMANT. In a meeting on 25 November 2014, Ms Buharit, Claimants development
manager, had made clear to Mr Weinbauer, Respondents CEO at the time, that CLAIMANT
needed as a minimum the full quantity of bottles ordered but preferably more [Exhibit C 5].
Mr Weinbauer had left no doubts that no quantity larger than the 10.000 bottles Claimant
had asked for could be delivered. However, he had created the impression that RESPONDENT
would honour its contractual delivery commitments, even if that meant delivering fewer
bottles to other customers. These other customers normally only place their binding orders
in December or January. Consequently, at the time of RESPONDENTs letter there were no
existing contractual obligations to such customers, even if they were long standing ones.
CLAIMANT had pointed that out in its email of 2 December 2014 and had demanded the
delivery of 10.000 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2014. It had stated clearly that it was not
interested in any future compensation for the nondelivery of 5500 bottles but would instead
insist on performance [Exhibit C 6].
9. Mr Weinbauer completely overreacted to this reasonable request for contractual
performance. He accused CLAIMANT of outrageous behaviour and purported to terminate
the contract, threatening that no delivery would be made at all [Exhibit C 7].
10. At that time CLAIMANT had already received a considerable number of orders for diamond
Mata Weltin 2014, some of which it had already accepted. Consequently, CLAIMANT had to
protect its interest and its business reputation. Thus, on 8 December 2014, CLAIMANT sought
an interim injunction in the High Court of Capital City, Mediterraneo, prohibiting
RESPONDENT from selling to other customers the 10.000 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin
2014 ordered by CLAIMANT. The interim injunction was granted on 12 December 2014
[Exhibit C 8] and RESPONDENT refrained from challenging the order.
11. Given Mr Weinbauers temper and the reduced quantity harvested it could not be guaranteed
that RESPONDENT would actually deliver the 10.000 bottles that it had been injuncted to
keep. Consequently, CLAIMANT in parallel immediately started to contact other top
vineyards and managed to make substitute arrangements for the 5.500 bottles RESPONDENT
had already refused to deliver in its first letter of 1 December 2014.
12. That CLAIMANTs action was justified is evidenced by the fact that RESPONDENT, in breach
of the arbitration agreement, subsequently started court proceedings in the Courts of
Mediterraneo seeking a declaration of nonliability. The request was denied, primarily on

procedural grounds. CLAIMANT had invoked the arbitration agreement in the contract and
the court denied jurisdiction [Exhibit C 9]. In the oral hearing the judge made clear, however,
that he considered RESPONDENT to be in breach of its obligations under the contract and
would most likely have rejected the action on the merits as well.
13. In both proceedings, CLAIMANT incurred considerable costs. CLAIMANT is a medium sized
Equatorianan business that does not have sufficient liquid capital at its disposal to pay
Mediterranean legal fees which are compared to the fees in Equatoriana very high. In
addition the unfavourable exchange rate had exacerbated CLAIMANTs problem. Also no
third party funding could be obtained. Therefore, CLAIMANT had engaged the local
Mediterranean law firm, LawFix, on a contingency fee basis [Exhibit C 10]. Even though
CLAIMANT was successful in the Mediterranean courts, under Mediterranean procedural law
each party has to bear its own costs.
14. As a result of the rejection of RESPONDENTs application for a declaration of nonliability, its
new management finally offered to deliver up to 4.500 bottles, as a sign of their goodwill and
to terminate all legal proceedings. It was, however, not willing to reimburse CLAIMANT for
the costs and the damages incurred due to the unreasonable behaviour by Mr Weinbauer.
15. That makes the initiation of arbitration proceedings necessary. In the light of the successful
business relationship in the past and an eventual future cooperation, CLAIMANT will limit
this action to claiming the legal fees it had incurred and the damages it had suffered
consequent on RESPONDENTs breaches of the contract. Under the condition that there is a
firm commitment to deliver 4.500 bottles by 1 November 2015, CLAIMANT is willing to
refrain from enforcing its right to specific performance in regard to the remaining 5.500
bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2014. Instead, it will merely ask for the damages it incurred
through the nondelivery. These are at least as high as the profit RESPONDENT obtained by
selling 5.500 bottles to SuperWines.
Statement of Relief sought:
1. Payment of damages to be determined by the profits the RESPONDENT made by selling
5.500 bottles of Mata Weltin 2014 to SuperWine.
2. Reimbursement of legal costs of US$ 50.280,00.
3. RESPONDENT shall bear the cost of this arbitral proceedings.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this
Honorable Court that judgement be rendered in favor of the plaintiff and that
after judgement;
a. The defendant shall vacate the house unit owned by the plaintiff.
b. The defendant shall be ordered to pay P 120, 000 for the Attorneys Fees.
Such other reliefs and remedies under the premises are likewise prayed
for.
_________________, Philippines, this ____ day of _________ 20__.
______________________
Counsel for the Plaintiff
PTR No. 18909595:1-04-07:B.C.
IBP No, 693095:1-04-07:B.C.

Roll No. 42481:5-10-97: Manila


Rm. 4 2/F Baguio Boating Center
180 Burnham Lake, Baguio City

You might also like