Judge dismisses lawsuit filed by SC Shrimpers Association

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A federal judge officially dismissed the lawsuit against Lowcountry restaurants that claimed that their alleged shrimp was falsely advertised.

The lawsuit, which was filed by the South Carolina Shrimpers Association, claimed that dozens of restaurants falsely represented and advertised imported shrimp as local. Judge Richard Mark Gergel said the complaint did not meet the legal standards required to move forward with the case.

The association sued over 40 restaurants after discovering they were allegedly not serving the advertised local shrimp to customers. in June. They later released 25 Lowcountry restaurants that were accused of shrimp fraud back in July.

“This ruling feels like a slap in the face to every shrimper who’s worked a lifetime to bring a clean, local product to market,” vice president of the S.C. Shrimpers Association Bryan Jones said. The truth is the DNA test results show a clear pattern of fraud that hurts honest businesses and puts consumers at risk. When we see recalls of imported shrimp for things like banned chemicals and even radioactive isotopes, and then a court denies us the chance to litigate the proof of fraud, it sends a clear message: big money and deception matter more than our families and the safety of your food. We want to feed our communities, and we won’t stop fighting until the consumer has the right to know exactly what’s on their plate."

The defendants say they want to remain committed to serving their patrons for their business after a months-long battle with the case.

Order Motion to Dismiss by Live 5 News

“We’ve always supported our local shrimpers and will continue to do so whenever the opportunity arises,” Wade Boals, owner of Saltwater Cowboys, a defendant in the case, said. “We’re grateful to Judge Gergel for recognizing the facts and to our attorneys for their hard work and dedication throughout this process. This decision reinforces what we’ve known all along–that our local restaurants operate with honesty and integrity. We appreciate all the support we’ve received and remain dedicated to providing an excellent dining experience, just as our family has done for generations.”

Another defendant explained how important it is to support other businesses to make the Lowcountry special.

“This case was baseless from the very beginning,” Robert Wyndham, counsel for the defendants, said. “It was a harmful and unfounded attack on dozens of hardworking local business owners who not only serve the Charleston community day in and day out, but also contribute greatly to our local economy. These restaurants, along with our local shrimpers, are part of what makes the Lowcountry special. It’s time we focus on supporting one another rather than tearing each other down.”