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to increase that number. Warner amended the contract to add two additional loads. In March 2007,
Warner sent a copy of the revised Contract Confirmation adding the two extra loads (loads 13 and
14) to both Nutsco and Schutzman.
Nutsco delivered ten loads of SLW-1 cashews to Schutzman, with the last load being received on
November 9, 2007. After receiving the tenth load, however, Schutzman roast tested the cashews
and determined that they did not qualify as “first quality” under Association of Food Industries, Inc.’s
(AFI) specifications because of a high level of scorching. Nutsco represents to the market that if
they are going to sell SLW-1 cashews, the cashews will meet AFI standards for SLW-1’s.
Schutzman notified Warner that the load was highly scorched and Jim Warner brought the
complaint and results of the roast test to Patricio Assis’s (at Nutsco) attention. At Warner’s request,
Schutzman provided six cases of cashews from the tenth load for evaluation by Nutsco. Nutsco did
not perform a roast test of the samples, but did conclude after its own analysis that the raw
cashews themselves did not meet AFI Specifications for first quality cashews.
Two months after Nutsco delivered the tenth load, in January 2008, Patricio Assis began arguing
that the parties’ contract only provided for 12 loads of SLW-1 cashews and that Nutsco was not
responsible for providing the two additional loads added in March 2007. At this point in time, the
market prices for SLW-1 cashews were approximately $2 per pound higher than the price Nutsco
was to receive from Schutzman under their contract. ( Id.). Warner reported to Schutzman that Mr.
Assis was arguing that the parties did not have a signed contract covering the additional loads.
Warner acknowledged that Schutzman was within its rights in rejecting the tenth load, but tried to
persuade Schutzman to accept the load instead. Schutzman initially agreed to keep the load and
pay the contract price, on the condition that Nutsco deliver all remaining loads, including loads 13
and 14. Patricio Assis would not agree to this arrangement. Warner then attempted to circumvent
Patricio Assis and contacted Francisco Assis Neto directly. Jim Warner advised Mr. Neto in an
email that Schutzman would pay for the scorched tenth load, but wanted delivery of the five loads
of cashews remaining under the contract. The communication also stated that the parties would
await a reply and not take any action until they received a response. While waiting for a reply,
Schutzman stored the tenth load in its refrigerated warehouse.
On May 5, 2008, Jim Warner sent an email to Patricio Assis reminding him that Schutzman was
waiting for Nutsco to pick up the rejected tenth load of cashews and advising him to contact Mike
Kloth in Schutzman’s shipping department. Mr. Assis contacted Mr. Kloth regarding pick-up. Due to
confusion with Schutzman’s new buyer, Mr. Kloth wrongly informed Mr. Assis that Schutzman did
not possess a load of SLW-1 cashews waiting to be picked up by Nutsco. At a July 25, 2008,
meeting, Schutzman clarified that it did possess the load of cashews and Nutsco made
arrangements to retrieve it from the warehouse. However, Patricio Assis insisted on first personally
inspecting the load. Another month passed before Mr. Assis traveled to Wisconsin to conduct his
inspection. Mr. Assis finally inspected the load on September 3, 2008, and arranged to have the
load picked up on September 10, 2008.
Schutzman did not pay for the rejected tenth load of SLW-1 cashews that Nutsco retrieved in
September 2008. Schutzman did pay all invoices for the nine preceding loads it received and
accepted. Schutzman paid a reduced price on two of the invoices after Warner agreed that it could
apply $1,750 and $1,284 in credit against these invoices.
In addition to the amounts it paid to Nutsco for delivery of the nine accepted loads, Schutzman also
paid to purchase loads of SLW-1 cashews from other wholesalers. Schutzman purchased five loads
to replace the remaining loads it had expected Nutsco to provide under their contract. Schutzman
paid $5.45 per pound for these loads, or $367,850 more for the five loads than it would have paid
under the contract with Nutsco. Schutzman filed suit for this amount as its claim of damages.
ISSUE: Was there a contract for 14 shipments? Was there a breach with the shipment of the tenth
defective load? Was Schutzman entitled to damages for the cost of cover?
HOLDING AND
REASONING: The court held that there was a contract for shipment of 14 loads of cashews. The court also held
that Schutzman did not convert the below-par 10th load of cashews and that Schutzman was