A Mexican Chocolate Producer v. German Manufacturer: Packaging Failure Due to High-Altitude Conditions

We represented a Mexican chocolate producer in a dispute against a German manufacturer concerning a non-functioning packaging machine. After installation at a production site located approximately 3,000 metres above sea level, the machine’s vacuum pumps failed to operate correctly, as the manufacturer had not accounted for altitude-specific conditions. The defect led to substantial production losses of approximately EUR 2 million. The matter was resolved through a cross-border settlement. The case also involved evidentiary proceedings in Mexico, combining technical engineering questions with cross-border litigation — and, on a lighter note, offered a rare opportunity to experience both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts around the hearings.