The vibes are off for the remains of Sherry-Lehmann. A federal judge just tossed out a lawsuit from the iconic, now-shuttered NYC wine shop that claimed a conspiracy of 'smear' reporting led to its downfall.
The Breakdown
Sherry-Lehmann, which closed its Park Avenue doors in 2023 after customers complained they weren't receiving the wine they paid for, tried to sue using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act. You know, the law usually reserved for taking down actual mob bosses. They alleged that Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist James B. Stewart and three former executives—Michael Aaron, Chris Adams, and Michael Yurch—teamed up to ruin the company’s reputation.
The store claimed Stewart wrote false info to snag himself a prize, even pointing to a 2023 article about the store illegally selling customer wine as a hit piece. The shop’s current owners, Kris Green and Shyda Gilmer, even accused the media and former staff of trying to cause 'maximum pain.'
The Ruling
US District Judge Andrew Carter wasn't having it. He dismissed the case, noting that Sherry-Lehmann couldn't even prove the 'racketeering activity' required to make a RICO claim stick. To make matters worse for the business, their own lawyer asked to drop the case due to unpaid legal fees. The judge gave them 30 days to find new counsel—if they can afford it.
Why it matters
This is a major L for a company already in hot water. Between the FBI raids, landlord lawsuits for unpaid rent, and now this failed legal pivot, it’s giving final boss energy for the wrong reasons. Real talk: dragging a Pulitzer winner into a RICO suit is highkey an expensive distraction from the actual business failures that landed them here.
