Waterloo, Nebraska
July 27, 2001
On Tuesday, July 24, 2001, the U.S.
District Court granted The J.C. Robinson Seed Company’s motion
to dismiss a lawsuit filed against it by the Illinois member
companies of Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc.
"We are pleased that the judgment
re-enforces what we have contended all along," Ed Robinson,
president of The J.C. Robinson Seed Co. said.
In his opinion, the District Court Judge agreed with The J.C.
Robinson Seed Co. arguments and cited several reasons for
dismissing the suit at the earliest stage in the process of the
case. In a nutshell, the judge decided under the current facts
that the Illinois member companies have not raised issues
sufficient to justify involvement by the court and that the role
of the court is not to act in an advisory capacity.
"While the judge's opinion analyzed many different legal
concepts and theories that apply to the relationship between the
member companies, including fiduciary duties that may be owed to
The J.C. Robinson Seed Co. by the Illinois members," Rob
Robinson, executive vice president said, "the bottom line is
that the judge agreed with the arguments that were raised in our
request to dismiss the case, rejected the arguments made by the
Illinois members, and dismissed the entire case."
The case should now be over unless the Illinois members ask
the Judge to reconsider his decision, or if they appeal his
decision to the Court of Appeals.
"While they are free to pursue either or both options, we
firmly believe that the Judge made the right decision and that
any effort to pursue those options would neither be successful
nor beneficial to Golden Harvest," Rob Robinson said.
"The J.C. Robinson Seed Co. intends to
continue to be a member of Golden Harvest, to sell Golden
Harvest products, and to continue to support the Golden Harvest
brand," Doug Robinson, senior vice president of The J.C.
Robinson Seed Co. said. "We remain committed to our mission of
bringing unique products of value to our customers."
The dismissed lawsuit filed in March, 2001, by board
representatives from Golden Seed Co., Sommer Bros. Seed Co.,
Thorp Seed Co.and Garwood Seed Co.asked the court to decide the
ability of the Illinois-based directors of Golden Harvest to
separate, without the existence of any default, The J.C.
Robinson Seed Co. from its association with Golden Harvest. In
addition, the suit asked the court to rule whether the Illinois
directors and the Illinois companies of Golden Harvest were free
of liability for damages resulting from their actions.
The J. C. Robinson Seed Company is one of five member
companies comprising Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc., the nations
fastest growing seed corn brand. Family-owned and family-led
since 1888, The J.C. Robinson Seed Company has grown into a
network of more than 1,500 employees, farmer-dealers and
distributors. The company markets to the western Corn Belt
states of Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North
Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas,
Wyoming, the West Coast, plus international sales in Europe and
Mexico.
Golden Harvest® is a registered trademark of
Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc.
Company news release
N3688
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