Del Monte Corp. v. Martin

CADENA, Chief Justice.

Defendant, Del Monte Corporation, d/b/a Del Monte Foods, Inc., appeals from a judgment based on a jury verdict awarding plaintiff, Wallace W. Martin, $11,130.00 actual damages plus $3,993.99 interest, as well as punitive damages of $20,000 for breach of contract.

Defendant, a canner of fruits and vegetables, and plaintiff, a farmer, entered into a written contract in September, 1970, which provided that plaintiff was to plant, cultivate, irrigate and harvest 50 acres of hybrid spinach. Defendant agreed to pay plaintiff $40.50 for each ton of “fancy grade” spinach.…