We’ve had some big news for our client JRT Nurseries which operates a plant nursery out of Abbotsford, BC and Lynden, WA. JRT was just awarded $35 million after a five-week jury trial held in the State of Oregon.

JRT Nurseries commenced an action against Sun Gro Horticulture and Wilbur-Ellis for supplying a fertilizer that damaged blueberry plants which JRT propagated for sale to farmers throughoutNorth America. Not only did JRT lose 4.1 million plants, their reputation was severely damaged throughout the farming community.

We were retained by the plaintiffs as the financial expert to quantify the lost profits suffered by the farmers and to quantify in financial terms, their Loss of Reputation.
 
The quantification of Loss of Reputation was a major component of the Jury award and was the most controversial at trial.
 
To put it in perspective, the defendants quantified the Loss of Reputation at $nil while we quantified it at $22.4 million. The Jury awarded $22.3 million (less a 10% contributory negligence component) for Loss of Reputation. 

In total, the Jury awarded $39.3 million (less 10% contributory negligence).

We congratulate JRT on a great win in their long fight.