Monday, June 1, 2026

More Liquor Stores Declare War on Ruan

 Several liquor stores filed a class action lawsuit against Ruan Transport in federal court last week.   Ruan manages the ABC warehouse and has been the subject of much controversy after it crippled ABC customers this year.  


Ruan Transport shut the warehouse down for a week in early January to take inventory.  With the warehouse closed, Ruan replaced the software and conveyor belt systems.  The software was not tested and did not communicate with ABC's MARS software.  Ruan replaced the conveyor system with a pick a pallet system.  The result was a total meltdown as shipping times skyrocketed from 48 hours to nearly a month as Ruan shipped less than 50% of cases ordered for a month, crippling casinos, restaurants, and package store owners alike.

Liquor Therapy, LLC (Biloxi), By-Pass Package (Hattiesburg), and JW Jennings Liquor (Tutwiler) sued Ruan in U.S. District Court Friday.  

The complaint claims Ruan knew the conveyor belt system was at the "end of life" when it submitted a bid.  The plaintiffs thus accuse Ruan of promising to use "in house integration experts" to implement its warehouse management software (Blue Yonder).  Ruan amended the contract to include replacing the conveyor belt system with a "pick a pallet" system in 2025.  The amendment conveniently bumped up the price ABC paid Ruan per case.  


Ruan did not install the new system, delaying it until the January warehouse shutdown even though maintenance support for the conveyor belt system ended on December 31, 2024 and software support ended on June 30, 2025.   The plaintiffs charge: 

27. Between the execution of Amendment No. 1 on March 6, 2025, and the WMS deployment in or about January 2026, Ruan did not undertake or complete adequate compatibility testing of the new warehouse management system against the existing Bastian Solutions conveyor infrastructure, did not develop or maintain a written contingency plan governing the deployment,

The plaintiffs accuse Ruan of collecting per-case fees on cases that were either partially or never delivered . The company allegedly prioritized filling larger orders over small orders, violating the first-come first-serve  terms of Ruan's contract.  

The complaint states the plaintiffs and other victims have suffered damages over $5 million while Ruan enjoyed profits of per-case fees it charged for cases partially or never delivered.  Liquor Therapy et al estimate Ruan received $583,000 in fees for the week of March 1 when the backlog was 220,000 cases.  

The class includes all package retailers in Mississippi except those who have filed their own lawsuits.  There are 700 package retailers in Mississippi.  

The lawsuit charges Ruan with negligence, gross negligence, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.  Ruan allegedly took no steps to test new systems that proved to be incompatible before conversion.  Ruan knew or should have known it could not meet the end of the year deadline when it amended the contract to include switching to a pick a pallet system in March 2025.  The company failed to notify ABC it could not "complete services", thus denying ABC the chance to "engage emergency contractors."  

The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney's fees. 

Attorneys Timothy Porter and Michael Casano represents the plaintiffs. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves. 





Posted by Kingfish at 4:06 PM

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

When the glove do fit, you can't acquit!

June 1, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Anonymous said...

What would the world be without lawyers?

June 1, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Anonymous said...

I hope this becomes the next asbestos. GTH Ruan!

June 1, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Anonymous said...

I hope they are driven out of business by this suit.

June 1, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Macy Hanson said...

I think that individualized issues preclude class certification. In addition to the lack of privity of contract issue. I'll be interested to see how this shakes out.

June 1, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Anonymous said...

The package stores are customers of the state. They should be suing DOR and Chris for making such a poor selection of vendors.

June 1, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Anonymous said...

Why do Mississippi Republicans think government should control the means of production (or provision.)

You people keep telling yourselves you’re “conservative.”

You reject free markets every day you support this failed system. You’re just socialists who hate the Democratic brand.

June 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Anonymous said...

Better off

June 1, 2026 at 7:08 PM

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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).

Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.

In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.