Seed Companies Battle in Court

A Los Angeles superior court judge upheld an earlier ruling in favor of the plaintiff, Clyde Robin Seed Company, in an action brought against Stover Seed Company, for unpaid invoices.

Clyde Robin Seed took action when the defendant underpaid two separate invoices, claiming that seed purchased from Clyde Robin was “under specifications.”

“Payment was received some 60 days after shipment, and it was short by over $900 without an explanation,” said Steve Atwood, president, Clyde Robin Seed Company. “I immediately called Stephen Knutson of Stover Seed and requested that he ship the seed back if he wasn’t pleased with it. Mr. Knutson claimed he had already sold the seed and could not return it.”

The court held that Stover was liable for the full purchase price of the seed if the company kept the seed and did not return it. The decision of the lower court was appealed by Stover Seed and heard again Sept. 11 by the appellate division of the Los Angeles Superior Court. There, the decision to award Clyde Robin Seed the amount owing was upheld.