A devastating lawsuit against New Glarus Brewing Company filed by three of its minority shareholders was dismissed on Friday.
The original suit was filed against the Wisconsin brewery — famous for its Spotted Cow Farmhouse Ale — in August 2021. According to WKOW 27 News, shareholders Karin Eichhoff, Steven Speer and Rod Runyan claimed that the business practices of the brewery’s owner and founder Deb Carey denied them rightfully-earned financial dividends and mishandled company dollars for personal benefit. The lawsuit alleged that Carey was using brand resources to start a distillery attached to New Glarus owned solely by herself and her husband and cofounder Dan Carey. Among other complaints, the lawsuit also claimed that Carey was withholding pertinent information regarding the valuation of company stocks and letting family members buy up shares without signing a shareholder agreement.
