Robert L. Preston v. United States

FLAUM, Circuit Judge.

This case involves a claim by numerous farmers against the United States for common law conversion pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2674 (1982). The main issue presented on appeal is whether the district court abused its discretion in calculating the damages due the farmers. We find no abuse of discretion, and accordingly affirm the district court’s judgment.

I

The plaintiffs Robert L. Preston and others are farmers (and the estates of deceased farmers) who deposited grain subject to either warehouse receipts or “price later contracts” in a grain…