Ohio lawsuit over $1 million in packaging

Remember a year ago, when many experts were warning of a potential flu pandemic? Brook Park, Ohio-based Kaufman Container Co. remembers, because it claims it lost $1 million when flu-related business failed to materialize. The Akron Beacon Journal's Ohio.com website has the story today, about Kaufman suing Akron-based GOJO Industries Inc. According to the story, GOJO expected demand for Purell hand sanitizer to skyrocket because of concern about the H1N1 flu. Starting in April 2009, according to the story, "GOJO began buying large quantities of packaging, including plastic bottles and pump dispensers, for its hand-sanitizing product." But when the flu fizzled, GOJO started to cancel the orders. Kaufman claims it was only able to cancel about 85 percent of the orders it made with bottle and pump manufacturers, so now it's asking the Summit County Common Pleas Court in Akron to rule that GOJO must pay for the rest, which Kaufman values at $1 million. What's the moral here, folks? Probably something like: Check your contracts so your company's not left hanging in the event of a disaster -- or in this case, the lack of a disaster.