Judge says state owes nearly $15M to liquor store owners

GREAT FALLS — A judge says the state owes nearly $15 million in damages to liquor store owners who sued in 2014 arguing the state used outdated information to reimburse stores for the discount the state requires they give bars and other liquor license holders that purchase liquor by the case.

District Judge Greg Pinski last year ruled that the law that set the formula was unconstitutional. On Tuesday he issued the order determining damages from 1997-2016.

Additional hearings will be held to determine if the state owes interest on the damages and whether it should have to pay attorney fees.

A new law took effect in February that set flat commission rates based on the dollar amount of alcohol the stores purchased in the previous year.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/judge-says-state-owes-nearly-m-to-liquor-store-owners/article_6926414e-4579-556e-9fc6-dc0e68d45055.html (short article)