Haner v. Quincy Farm Chemicals, Inc.

This action was brought by plaintiff Robert Haner, a farmer, to recover damages for the sale to him of defective wheat seed. Defendant Columbia Producers, Inc., had treated the seed with Terra-Coat, a fungicide manufactured by defendant Olin Corporation. A leak in the seed treating machine caused the wheat seed to be over-treated, resulting in partial sterility. Columbia tested one sample of wheat seed from the defective batch and found it to have a germination rate of 83 percent. Columbia's usual practice when wheat seed tested at less than 85 percent was to advise customers of the fact and…