Tri-County Farmer's Co-Op v. Bendele

This is a usurious credit contract case arising under Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat. art. 5069-1.06. Tri-County Farmer’s Co-op (Co-op) brought suit on a sworn account against Albert L. Bendele (Bendele), a Medina County farmer. Bendele, in counterclaim, alleged usurious credit practices on Co-op’s part and sought the statutory remedies for usury under the penalty provisions of Art. 5069-1.06(1) and (2). 1

At trial, Bendele argued that the Co-op had engaged in usurious credit practices that involved charges and receipts of interest in excess of double the maximum rate 2 allowed by law. In response, Co-op…