PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

On February 24, 2012, a civil action was filed in New York against New Farm, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $70,000 in alleged PACA trust debt. 

On February 27, 2012, a civil action was filed in Denver, CO against Apex Produce Company LLC in an effort to collect approximately $188,000 in alleged PACA trust debt.

Please check your A/R to see if these cases affect you.  If they do, please do not wait to assert your rights.

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

On February 17, 2012, a civil action was filed in Missouri against Harry Gelb Frozen Foods, Inc. in an attempt to collect over $17,000.00 in alleged PACA trust debt.

Please check your A/R to see if this case affects you.  If it does, please do not wait to assert your rights.

USDA Practice Tip – Single Transaction Rule

A produce buyer is not at liberty to breach a contract with a produce seller via nonpayment on an invoice simply because the buyer perceives that a seller is indebted to them.  A buyer who accepts produce becomes liable to the seller for the full purchase price thereof, less any damage resulting from any breach of contract by the seller.  Ocean Breeze Export, Inc. v. Rialto Distributing, Inc., 60 Agric. Dec. 840 (2001)(emphasis added).  

An offset is not a defense to a buyer’s non-payment.  See Standard Fruit & Steamship Company v. Jos. Notarianni & Company, Inc., 41 Agric. Dec. 1425 (1982)(finding the buyer defenseless against a seller’s unpaid invoice claim and holding that the buyer owed the gross invoice amount, unless it can prove offsetting credits. )

What does this mean?  Every produce transaction/file must stand on its own.  It also means that a buyer cannot justify its failure to make full payment promptly under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act simply because the seller may owe the buyer some amount on an unrelated produce transaction/file.

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

 

PACA Trust Litigation Alert
PACA Trust Litigation Alert

On February 10, 2012, a civil action was filed in New York against New Hyde Park Inn, Inc. d/b/a Inn at New Hyde Park in an effort to collect approximately $74,000.00 in alleged PACA debt. 

On February 14, 2012, a civil action was filed in Pennsylvania against Cardile Bros. Mushroom Packaging, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $95,000.00 in alleged PACA debt. 

On February 15, 2012, a civil action was filed in Chicago against Fresh Farms International Market, Inc. d/b/a Fresh Farms Wheeling in an effort to collect approximately $34,000.00 in alleged PACA debt. 

Please check your A/R to see if these cases affect you.  If they do, please do not wait to assert your rights.
  

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert
PACA Trust Litigation Alert

On February 1, 2012, a civil action was filed in Pennsylvania against Reed-Saul, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $41,300.00 in alleged PACA Trust debt.

Please check your A/R to see if this case affects you.  If it does, please do not wait to assert your rights.

The Opportunity and Challenge of Food Importation

Freeborn & Peters’ Food Industry Team is proud to sponsor the Global Midwest Alliance’s Chicago Winter Food Industry and Technology Event on March 1, 2012.

Featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Robert E. Brackett, Vice President and Director, The Institute for Food Safety and Health at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Dr. Brackett will discuss: How Importers Can Prepare for the Impact of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Also featuring Industry Update Speaker Tejas Bhatt, Staff Scientist, The Institute of Food Technologists.   Mr. Bhatt will discuss: The FDA’s Food Safety Pilot Program: Meeting the Challenge of Traceability.

***This event is the part of the Global Midwest Alliance Food Trade and Technology Series.

http://foodindustry.eventbrite.com

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

Because PACA Trust litigation potentially affects the entire industry, please note the following:

  • On January 31, 2012, a civil action was filed in Maryland against Mixt Greens, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $74,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.
  • On January 30, 2012, a civil action was filed in Florida against T&R Produce Wholesale and Trucking, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $63,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.  A TRO has been entered in this case.
  • On January 26, 2012, a civil action was filed in California against Zooma Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a LaPalapa Market Place in an effort to collect approximately $22,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.  A TRO has been entered in this case.
  • On January 25, 2012, a civil action was filed in New Jersey against MH Produce LLC in an effort to collect approximately $56,600.00 in alleged PACA debt.
  • On January 25, 2012, a civil action was filed in Massachusetts against Andrew T. Recupero d/b/a A&R Fruit and A&R Produce in an effort to collect approximately $49,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.

Please check your A/R to see if these cases affect you.  If they do, please do not wait to assert your rights.

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

 Because PACA Trust litigation potentially affects the entire industry, please note the following:

  • On December 14, 2011, a civil action was filed in California against El Metate Foods, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $86,000.00 in alleged PACA debt. 
  • On December 15, 2011, a civil action was filed in Pennsylvania against Drew Dicarlo & Son Mushroom, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $33,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.
  • On December 15, 2011, a civil action was filed in Pennsylvania against Midway Supermarket, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $37,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.

 Please check your A/R to see if these cases affect you.  If they do, please do not wait to assert your rights.

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

Because PACA litigation potentially affects everyone in the industry, please note the following:

  • On December 8, 2011, a civil action was filed in New York against Eric Produce, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $72,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.
  • On December 9, 2011, a civil action was filed in Chicago against Waukegan Fruit Market, Inc. in an effort to collect approximately $23,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.
Please check your A/R to see if these cases affect you.  If they do, please do not wait to assert your rights.

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

PACA Trust Litigation Alert

Good morning:

  • On December 8, 2011, a civil action was filed in Wisconsin against FP Drive LLC d/b/a International Produce in an attempt to collect approximately $26,000.00 in alleged PACA debt.

Please check your A/R to see if this case affects you.  If it does, please do not wait to assert your rights.