Court finds in favor of Sun World in Sugraone case
Court finds in favor of Sun World in Sugraone case
In a landmark decision following protracted litigation over the Sugraone, a seedless grape variety owned by Sun World International LLC, a federal court judge has found Sun Pacific Farming Cooperative Inc. and related parties liable for fraud and conversion for Sun Pacific's unlawful taking of Sun Worlds property. The court ordered Sun Pacific to stop growing and destroy the Sugraone variety grapevines in question and pay damages of nearly $300,000 to Sun World.
The judgment stems from Sun Pacific Farming Cooperative Inc. v. Sun World International Inc. as well as from Sun World International Inc. v. Sun Pacific Farming Cooperative Inc., Sun Pacific Farming Co., Berne H. Evans III and Richard Peters. The cases were filed in August and September 2001 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Coyle of the Eastern District of California issued the final judgment June 16, declaring that Sun World has legal title to the Sugraone vines at issue and that Sun Pacific "committed fraud by removing and retaining Sugraone plant material."
Judge Coyle noted that the harm suffered by Sun World resulted from fraud and deceit and was not caused by mere accident, and he ordered that Sun Pacific must destroy the subject Sugraone grapevines under the supervision and observation of a Sun World representative within 60 days of entry of the judgment.
Judge Coyle also ordered Sun Pacific to pay Sun World compensatory and punitive damages and costs totaling over $285,000. Sun Pacific has appealed the judgment. Sun World intends to vigorously litigate the appeal and expects to prevail.
Sun World invests millions of dollars to develop, produce, market and protect its proprietary fruit varieties, Chief Executive Officer Bruce Burton said in a statement. We are heartened by this important ruling and believe that it sends a strong message that private property whether a grapevine or a valuable piece of artwork is just that and never free for the taking.
The judgment stems from Sun Pacific Farming Cooperative Inc. v. Sun World International Inc. as well as from Sun World International Inc. v. Sun Pacific Farming Cooperative Inc., Sun Pacific Farming Co., Berne H. Evans III and Richard Peters. The cases were filed in August and September 2001 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Coyle of the Eastern District of California issued the final judgment June 16, declaring that Sun World has legal title to the Sugraone vines at issue and that Sun Pacific "committed fraud by removing and retaining Sugraone plant material."
Judge Coyle noted that the harm suffered by Sun World resulted from fraud and deceit and was not caused by mere accident, and he ordered that Sun Pacific must destroy the subject Sugraone grapevines under the supervision and observation of a Sun World representative within 60 days of entry of the judgment.
Judge Coyle also ordered Sun Pacific to pay Sun World compensatory and punitive damages and costs totaling over $285,000. Sun Pacific has appealed the judgment. Sun World intends to vigorously litigate the appeal and expects to prevail.
Sun World invests millions of dollars to develop, produce, market and protect its proprietary fruit varieties, Chief Executive Officer Bruce Burton said in a statement. We are heartened by this important ruling and believe that it sends a strong message that private property whether a grapevine or a valuable piece of artwork is just that and never free for the taking.
