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Posted on 04/01/2007 12:46:47 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina Supreme Court has tossed out a lawsuit filed by barbecue magnate Maurice Bessinger accusing several grocery store chains of unfair trade by not selling his sauce on their shelves.
Nine chains with over 3,000 stores between them removed Bessinger's mustard-based barbecue sauce in 2000 after he raised the Confederate flag over his restaurants in protest of the legislature's decision to take the Confederate flag off the top of the Statehouse dome.
News stories at the time also pointed out Bessinger distributed literature at his restaurants with titles like "The South Was Right" and "Myths of American Slavery."
Bessinger sued Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Publix, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Winn-Dixie and Piggly Wiggly stores, asking for $50 million. He said they violated his right to free speech under the state's Unfair Trade Practices Act by removing his barbecue sauce.
The state Supreme Court recently upheld rulings by two lower courts that Bessinger's case did not have enough merit to be heard by a jury.
Bessinger attorney Glen Winston LaForce Sr. said the ruling ends Bessinger's legal fight.
"Mr. Bessinger is still proudly flying the Confederate flag. He stood for his principles, and I'm proud of him for that," LaForce said.
The last time I was in the Carolinas I bought a bunch of southern Barbeque sauce. One was gold colored. Yummy!!! You "seccessionists," as we yankees used to call you back in 1862, sure know how to make really good sauces.
I order mine by the case on line. Maurice has a web site as I'm sure most aficionados of his sauce are aware.
I'm a Texan, and we don't use BBQ sauce from OKLAHOMA! :)
(against our religon :)
Mr. Bessinger has a perfect right to fly any flag he chooses over his store.
Other stores have a perfect right to choose which merchandise they do and do not sell in their stores.
It's called the American Way and I thank God for it!
Them's fightin' words, we might just come down and take the whole dam* river!!
That's a problem?
I live just a few miles from his primary business in West Columbia, and there are several smaller drive through locations spread around the greater Columbia area, so getting his sauces is not a problem for me. I’ve also eaten at the one near Santee Lake. It’s a bit pricey as barbecue goes, but it is also very distinctive in its taste. The “Big Joe” sandwich is pretty good eating.
With that said, I’ll reveal a secret. The best barbecue on the face of the planet comes from a little mom & pop buffet in New Ellenton, SC called “Carolina Barbecue”. I ate there yesterday, and let me tell you, it’s hard to stop at just one plate.
free dixie,sw
Don't you know that everybody north of the Red River are Yankees? :)
Try some real Texas Barbeque sometime....we cook BEEF, (not pigs) :)
A photo of Mr Bessinger.
Some say Mr. Bessinger believes in slavery. I worked at his original Piggy Park restaurant in 1977 and I can tell you, he does. :-)
I fully support Mr. Bessinger and his cause. Frankly I think the grocery stores bowed to PC pressure prematurely and needlessly. That being said, I can't actually use Maurice's sauce because it is not made the only way one is supposed to make sauce. Eastern NC vinegar style
Now since you mentioned the Raleigh area have you been to Lexington BBQ, and what is your opinion?
I suspect Bessinger and his lawyer/s knew all along they couldn't win this case -- and that the publicity would boost sales.
That's possible, but I'm not so sure about that. I think it's easy to be as hypocritical as the Dixie Chicks on the subject of Free Speech when you find yourself suffering negative financial consequences for asserting your right to Free Speech.
The best barbecue comes from Wilbur's Barbecue in Goldsboro, NC.
What? Mustard-based, gag.
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