Quixtar distributors go to court

By Tyler Lecceadone
WZZM13.com (8/20/07)

Grand Rapids - Several Quixtar Independent Business Operators from around the state of Michigan assembled outside the Kent County Courthouse Monday afternoon.

No ruling, but in a brief statement lawyers from both sides agreed, Quixtar will not take action until a hearing Wednesday.

The group is protesting a recent decision by Quixtar, whose parent company is Alticor, to terminate 15 independent business operators last week. The company claims that the independent distributors actions were detrimental to the company's operations.

Alticor had given the group until 5pm today to disassociate themselves in anyway from the 15 banned distributors.

A joint statement, read by Quixtar attorney Ed Bardelli, said Quixtar as agreed not to take any action pending the outcome of Wednesday's hearing. It went on to say:"It should be clear that this matter has been rescheduled and neither side is waiving any rights or arguments relating to the merits of this lawsuit."

The 200 or so IBO's who assembled outside the courthouse feared they would lose their livelihoods by the end of business today. Today's ruling means they will keep their relationship with Quixtar - at least through Wednesday.

A pair of websites offer differing views on the situation. Alticor offers this: http://media.alticorblogs.com/, while the IBO's suing the company have this: http://www.freetheibo.com/home.html.

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