Crabtree v. Department of Agriculture

Plaintiffs James B. Crabtree and Douglas Crabtree appeal from a Macoupin County circuit court order which upheld an administrative finding by the Director of Agriculture that they were not entitled to recovery from the Illinois Grain Insurance Fund (fund). The Atwater Grain Company failed, and the Crabtrees filed claims based on two warehouse receipts. A hearing officer and the Director of Agriculture (Director) essentially found the warehouse receipts issued by Atwater to the Crabtrees were improper and did not permit them to recover pursuant to the Illinois Grain Insurance Act (Grain…