State Ex Rel. Department of Agriculture v. A.B.N. Ranch

This is an appeal of an order distributing bond proceeds made by the First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, in its memorandum and order of August 6, 1987. Originally, the State of Montana Department of Agriculture (State), filed an inter-pleader action after receiving bond proceeds from the surety of Coast Trading Company, Inc. (Coast) after Coast declared bankruptcy.

The District Court determined that there were two categories of numerous defendants entitled to receive the proceeds. One category is a group of independent grain dealers (Dealers) who contracted with…