Law Firms
Day Pitney Sued for Alleged Malpractice in Vanilla Beans Case
Posted Jun 4, 2009, 06:07 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A vanilla importer has sued Day Pitney, alleging legal malpractice in a dispute with the company's insurer over coverage for a tainted shipment of vanilla beans.
The suit by International Flavors & Fragrances claims Day Pitney and partner Robert Rose failed to assert IFF’s claims in a timely manner in the declaratory judgment action by its insurer, the American Lawyer reports.
The insurance dispute centered on responsibility for the costs of recalling vanilla products and the cleaning of processing equipment after IFF discovered the contamination, according to the story. An Indonesian supplier had added the mercury to increase the weight of the beans and hike the price.
The Travelers Indemnity Co. had filed suit seeking a declaration that it was not responsible for IFF’s expenses. IFF claims in the malpractice suit that Day Pitney miscalculated the correct date for expiration of the company’s claims and billed for work related to their mistake, the story says.