BMC//LAW Concludes Trial in Southern District of New York for China United Lines
Long Beach, California — August 4, 2026 — BMC//LAW is pleased to announce the conclusion of a federal trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, where the firm represented China United Lines, Ltd. (“CUL”), a leading provider of containerized ocean shipping services, in a breach of contract claim against Amazon. The trial has concluded, and the Court has not yet issued its decision.
The case arises from a commercial relationship formed during the global disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, Amazon entered into a two-year contract with CUL, committing to ship a minimum volume of cargo. In return, CUL dedicated significant resources and capacity to meet Amazon’s logistics needs.
Amazon recognized CUL’s performance and posted about the Amazon-CUL relationship on its public-facing social media. CUL subsequently shared this same information in its own online communications.
The relationship later deteriorated as global shipping rates declined. In March 2023, Amazon elected to terminate the parties’ agreement prematurely. Amazon calculated that it would owe CUL $31.56 million in liquidated damages for doing so, figures which CUL subsequently confirmed. However, on June 7, 2023, Amazon refused to pay these liquidated damages on a ground CUL deems utterly unreasonable: Amazon claimed that CUL had used Amazon’s name without its approval and breached the confidentiality clause of the parties’ agreement. As CUL argued at trial, this position is without merit: since Amazon publicly disclosed information concerning the parties’ relationship and CUL’s performance first, CUL reproducing and restating this information could not constitute disclosure of “confidential information” within the meaning of the parties’ agreement.
CUL alleges that Amazon did not act as a faithful and honest partner in the parties’ relationship. According to CUL, Amazon accepted and benefited from the agreement—including faster service than other ocean carriers, reliable delivery of cargo on time, and enhanced customer-focused “concierge” service, —while later seeking to avoid the very contractual commitments that made those benefits possible.
Those benefits, CUL argued, were expressly conditioned on Amazon’s agreement that, in the event of early termination, it would pay liquidated damages. These payments were critical to enabling CUL to invest in vessels, capacity, and service levels tailored to Amazon’s needs. By refusing to pay those liquidated damages, CUL contended that Amazon improperly retained the full advantages of the parties’ bargain without paying for them. As presented at trial, this outcome is not only contrary to the parties’ contract but inequitable.
“We are proud to have represented China United Lines in this significant and hard-fought trial,” said Bryce M. Cullinane, Managing Attorney at BMC//LAW. “This case underscores the importance of honoring contractual and relationship commitments.”
BMC//LAW thanks China United Lines and the BMC trial team for their dedication and professionalism throughout the proceedings. The firm looks forward to the Court’s decision.
In addition to the breach of contract claim in the Southern District of New York, BMC//LAW is pursuing a separate, independent claim on CUL’s behalf at the Federal Maritime Commission against Amazon. CUL alleges that Amazon violated the Shipping Act by securing ocean transportation services, including space guarantees and premium delivery, at less than the applicable rates or charges through unjust and unfair means, thereby obtaining substantial benefits to which Amazon was not entitled. The FMC is adjudicating the case. BMC//LAW will continue to vigorously represent CUL in the subsequent FMC proceeding to protect its legitimate rights and interests.