In October, 2008, Charles Smarr, served as the moderator for a panel entitled, “How to Prepare for a 21st Amendment/Antitrust Lawsuit” at the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators Central/Western Region Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri.
Panelists were Max Hess with the law firm of Chorey, Taylor & Feil in Atlanta, Georgia and Michael Madigan with the law firm of Madigan, Dahl & Harlan in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Central to the discussion was a recent Louisiana decision, Manuel v. State of Louisiana, in which Mr. Smarr was appointed as special assistant attorney general by the Attorney General of Louisiana to help the state of Louisiana defend a lawsuit challenging numerous provisions of the Louisiana Liquor Control Act. Mr. Smarr was successful in assisting the state of Louisiana in defending the lawsuit against various 21st Amendment and Antitrust challenges.