A months-long legal dispute between the South Carolina Shrimpers Association and more than a dozen Lowcountry restaurants, dubbed the “Shrimpgate” lawsuit, concluded late last week with its dismissal.
On October 31, US District Court Judge Richard Mark Gergel dismissed the case after ruling that the allegations brought forth were insufficient. Court records indicate the lawsuit lacked both constitutional and statutory standing.
The lawsuit, originally filed in June, was aimed at over 40 restaurants and food retailers. The South Carolina Shrimpers Association had accused these establishments of selling fraudulent imported shrimp that was mislabeled as local. The suit was prompted by a study that reportedly found 90% of sampled eateries were serving imported shrimp.
Notable Charleston-area establishments, including Pearlz Oyster Bar, Page’s Okra Grill, and Saltwater Cowboys, were among the defendants.
Attorneys representing the defendant restaurants stated that the case was baseless from the start. They emphasized that the action was an unfounded attack on hardworking local business owners who contribute significantly to the local economy. The restaurants are now focused on moving past the dispute and supporting the community.
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