OHIO

OHIO

Ohio beer distributors sue over broken agreements

CLEVELAND — MillerCoors LLC is facing a court fight in Ohio over its attempt to trim costs by cutting beer distributorships.

Beverage Distributors Inc. of Cleveland and AFP Distributors Inc. of Glouster in southeast Ohio have asked U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson in Columbus to block the brewer from breaking their franchise agreements.

MillerCoors said in separate Aug. 19 letters that it was terminating the distributorships effective Sept. 25 under an Ohio law allowing such an action when ownership changes hands. The distributors sued the brewer last week in response.

The company is a newly formed joint venture between SABMiller’s U.S. unit and Denver-based Molson Coors Brewing Co.

Lear plans to close plant

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — A union official says auto parts maker Lear Corp. has told employees in Zanesville the company will shut down its plant in the eastern Ohio city next year.

President Mark Chema of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1628 says about 175 people work at the factory. Chema says the company announced Wednesday the plant will begin winding down in March 2009 and close by September.

Associated Press