According to a filing in the Texas Southern District Court (case number 5:2009cv00028) Diageo Brands B.V.is claiming $39,103,541 from UETA, Inc. under a Breach of Contract claim, which is dated as being filed in the

court on March 13, 2009.

This follows news of a major dispute between the two parties where Diageo is claiming this money is owed for goods supplied to UETA, as first reported in an article published by the Laredo Morning Times newspaper on March 10.

The newspaper reported that District Judge – Raul Vasquez – signed a sequestration order on the stock on March 3, after Diageo put up a $50,000 bond.

But the story also quotes Carlos Castillon, an attorney representing UETA as saying that the company now plans to apply for a motion to dissolve this order.

Castillon was also quoted by the paper as saying that he believes the matter can be worked out.

The goods concerned are said to include brands such as Buchanan's (a market leader in Mexico), Crown Royal, Don Julio, Jose Cuervo, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Tanqueray.

Immediately following the publication of the report The Business contacted both Diageo and Duty Free Americas, but received a firm 'no comment' from both.

No date has been quoted in the subsequent basic filing of the case for the first hearing, although the Presiding Judge has since been appointed and named as Judge Micaela Alvarez. At the same time, the Referring Judge has been named as Magistrate Judge J.Scott Hacker.