Case Law Index
Disaster Assistance/Crop Insurance

January 1, 2002 - March 1, 2011

This index provides a comprehensive though not necessarily exhaustive compilation of reported and unreported federal and state court decisions involving the Federal Crop Insurance Program that were decided on or after January 1, 2002. For those cases that have been summarized by the National Agricultural Law Center, a link is provided to the summary. The index will be regularly updated to reflect new judicial developments. The cases are listed in reverse chronological order.

The "Text" link goes to the freely available Google Scholar text of the opinion; the "Summary" link goes to a summary of the opinion written by the National Agricultural Law Center staff.

FOURTH CIRCUIT

Porter v. United States, No. 1:10CV00026, 2011 WL 182108 (W.D. Va. Jan. 20, 2011) (false claims regarding tobacco crop to USDA)

Tyson v. USDA, No. 09-1037, 2010 WL 107340 (4th Cir. Jan. 13, 2010) (requiring return of overpayment for tobacco losses)  Text

Great Am. Ins. Co. v. Mills, No. 4:06-cv-01971-RBH, 2008 WL 2250256 (D. S.C. May 29, 2008) (person with insurable crop interest)

In re Peanut Crop Ins. Litig., 524 F.3d 458 (4th Cir. 2008) (indemnity rate of quota peanuts)  Text

Eatmon v. Morgan, 145 Fed. App'x 839 (4th Cir. 2005)

United States. v. Undetermined Amount of U.S. Currency, 376 F.3d 260 (4th Cir. 2004)  Text

FIFTH CIRCUIT

United States v. Crook, No. 09-00133, 2010 WL 5100030 (W.D. La. Dec. 8, 2010) (disaster assistance and emergency loans)

United States v. Crook, Cr. Action No. 09-00133, 2010 WL 2775399 (W.D. La. July 12, 2010) (underreporting of rice production to obtain disaster relief)

Pace v. Armtech Ins. Servs., No. 1:07-cv-00335, 2010 WL 1253645 (W.D. La. Mar. 30, 2010) (claim of failure to pay insurance claims)

Redecop v. Gerber, Civil Action No. 4:04CV62-P-B, 2007 WL 120716 (N.D. Miss. Jan. 11, 2007)  Text

United States v. Fullwood, 342 F.3d 409 (5th Cir. 2003)   Text

Rain & Hail Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 229 F.Supp. 2d 710 (S.D. Tex. 2002)  Text

SIXTH CIRCUIT

In re Horton, No. 10-53495, 2011 WL 832946 (Bankr. E.D.Ky. March 4, 2011) (attempted claim of exemption of commission earned by crop insurance sales by debtor in bankruptcy)

Cain Field Nursery v. Farmers Crop Ins. Alliance, No. 4:09-cv-78, 2010 WL 3813463 (E.D. Tenn. Sept. 22, 2010) (challenge of denial of insurance claims following hailstorm; disputed coverage)  Text

Stewart v. Fed. Crop. Ins. Corp., No. 4:09-cv-101, 2010 WL 3341863 (E.D. Tenn. Aug. 25, 2010) (improper denial of claims of loss following hailstorm)  Text

Kuehnemund v. United States, Nos. 04-20025, 07-15174, 2008 WL 4539522 (E.D. Mich. Oct. 9, 2008) (relief from criminal conviction for federal crop insurance fraud)  Text   |    Summary

United States v. Kuehnemund, 208 Fed. App'x 371 (6th Cir. 2006)

United States v. Bli, Civil No. 00-10484, 2006 WL 3333104 (E.D. Mich. Nov. 15, 2006)

Farmers Crop Ins. Alliance v. Laux, 422 F.Supp. 2d 898 (S.D. Ohio 2006)(court would not reevaluate arbitration findings)  Text   |    Summary

SEVENTH CIRCUIT

IGF Ins. Co. v. Cont'l Cas. Co., NO. 1:01-cv-799-RLY-KPF, 2009 WL 3415139 (S.D. Ind. 2009) (valuation of reassurance agreements)  Text

Buchholz v. Rural Cmty. Ins. Co., No. 05C0115C, 2005 WL 1711153 (W.D. Wis. July 20, 2005) (exhaustion of remedies)  Text   |    Summary

Buchholz v. Rural Cmty. Ins. Co., No. 05C0115C, 2005 WL 1711153 (W.D. Wis. July 20, 2005) (standing)  Text   |    Summary

EIGHTH CIRCUIT

In re Schnuelle, 441 B.R. 616 (8th Cir. B.A.P. 2011) (farmer's debt is nondischargeable due to misstatements regarding crop insurance coverage)

United States v. Hawley, 619 F.3d 886 (8th Cir. 2010) (prosecution of insurance agent under False Claims Act for fraudulent scheme to obtain federally reinsured crop insurance payments)  Text

Robertson Bros. Farms v. Farmers Mut. Hail Ins. Co., Nos. 5:08CV0332 JMM, 2010 WL 2471911 (E.D. Ark. June 15, 2010) (bad faith denial of crop insurance claim)  Text

Warsaw Sugar Beet Ass'n v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., No. 2:09-cv-04, 2010 WL 597103 (D.N.D. Feb. 18, 2010) (challenging denial crop insurance claim)  Text

Svancara v. Rain & Hail, LLC, No. 8:09CV144, 2009 WL 2982906 (D. Neb. Sept. 11, 2009) (dismissing claim for judicial review of arbitrator's award)  Text

Svancara v. Rain & Hail, LLC, No. 8:09CV144, 2009 WL 1652220 (D. Neb. June 11, 2009) (judicial review of arbitration award)  Text

Nelson v. Comm'r, 568 F.3d 662 (8th Cir. 2009) (could not defer recognition of crop insurance proceeds to following year)  Text

In re Acceptance Ins. Cos., 567 F.3d 369 (8th Cir. 2009) (interpretation of reinsurance agreement)  Text

In re Kraft, No. 05-31171, 2008 WL 5110530 (Bankr. D. N.D. Dec. 4, 2008) (overpayment by insurance company; failure to provide three year production history)  Text

United States v. Hawley, No. C 06-4087-MWB, 2008 WL 2600144 (N.D. Iowa June 27, 2008) (False Claims Act)  Text

United States v. Hawley, No. C 06-4087-MWB, 2008 WL 912886 (N.D. Iowa, April 3, 2008) (False Claims Act)

Rain & Hail, L.L.C. v. Harness, No. 4:07-MC-510 CAS, 2008 WL 544982 (E.D. Mo. Feb. 25, 2008) (confirming arbitration award)

United States v. Wentworth, No. 4:06CR3172, 2007 WL 4608720 (D. Neb. Dec. 31, 2007) (criminal fraud and misrepresentation charges)

Anderson v. Farm Serv. Agency, Civil No. 06-1945 ADM/AJB, 2007 WL 1657395 (D.Minn. June 8, 2007)  Text

Stedman v. Great Am. Ins. Co., No. 4:06-cv-101, 2007 WL 1040367 (D.N.D. Apr. 3, 2007)

Ace Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 440 F.3d 992 (8th Cir. 2006)  Text

Buschkoetter v. Johanns, No. 8:05CV115, 2006 WL 1479165 (D.Neb. May 24, 2006)

Faimon v. Farmers Crop Ins. Alliance, Inc., No. 8:05CV382, 2006 WL 463856 (D.Neb. Feb. 24, 2006)

Rain & Hail Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 426 F.3d 976 (8th Cir. 2005) (reinsurance)  Text   |    Summary

Kroeplin Farms Gen. P'ship v. Heartland Crop Ins., Inc., 430 F.3d 906 (8th Cir. 2005) (right to indemnity)  Text   |    Summary

Ace Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp. & Risk Mgmt. Agency, 357 F.Supp. 2d 1140 (S.D. Iowa 2005) (exhaustion of remedies)  Text   |    Summary

Alliance Ins. Co. v. Wilson, 384 F.3d 547 (8th Cir. 2004) (preemption of state law)  Text   |    Summary

Nat'l Crop Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 351 F.3d 346 (8th Cir. 2003) (exhaustion of administrative remedies)  Text   |    Summary

Am. Growers Ins. Co. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 532 F.3d 797 (S.D. Iowa Mar. 3, 2003) (insurer seeking indemnification)   Summary

Alliance Ins. Co. v. Wilson, No. Civ. 02-2929(DWF/JSM), 2003 WL 21954795 (D. Minn. Aug. 12, 2003)

Alliance Ins. Co. v. Wilson, No. Civ.02-2929(DWF/JSM), 2003 WL 1906160 (D. Minn. Apr. 16, 2003) (preemption of state law)    Summary

Bullinger v. Trebas, 245 F.Supp. 2d 1060 (D.N.D. 2003) (preemption of state law)  Text   |    Summary

Am. Growers Ins. Co. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 210 F.Supp. 2d 1088 (S.D. Iowa 2002) (claim against FCIC; jurisdiction)  Text   |    Summary

Agre v. Rain & Hail L.L.C., 196 F.Supp. 2d 905 (D. Minn. 2002) (preemption of state law)  Text   |    Summary

In re 2000 Sugar Beet Crop Ins. Litig. (Sugar Beet I), 228 F.Supp. 2d 999 (D. Minn. 2002) (exhaustion of administrative remedies)  Text   |    Summary

In re 2000 Sugar Beet Crop Ins. Litig. (Sugar Beet II), 228 F.Supp. 2d 992 (D. Minn. 2002)  Text   |    Summary

Kuster v. Veneman, 226 F.Supp. 2d 1190 (D.N.D. 2002) (protected property interest)  Text   |    Summary

NINTH CIRCUIT

Mora v. USDA, No. C09-03809 HRL, 2010 WL 94263 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 6, 2010) (subject matter jurisdiction; failure to pay disaster relief)

Adams v. United States, No. CV-03-49-E-BLW, 2009 WL 4782102 (D. Idaho Dec. 8, 2009) (crop disaster programs are not a collateral source)  Text

Olsen v. United States, Nos. CV-08-5012-FVS, CV-08-5013-FVS, 2009 WL 3188423 (E.D. Wash. Sept. 30, 2009) (FCIC's authority to revise claim determinations)  Text

Olsen v. United States ex rel. the Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., No. 08-35228, 2009 WL 1638652 (9th Cir. June 10, 2009) (vacation of arbitration award; arbitrators lacked authority to bound the U.S.)

Winnemucca Farms, Inc. v. Eckersell, No. 3:05-CV-385-RAM, 2009 WL 1360378 (D. Nev. May 13, 2009) (negligent and intentional misrepresentation by crop insurance company)   Text

Olsen v. United States ex rel. U.S. Dep't of Agric., No. CV-06-5020-FVS, 2008 WL 681847 (E.D. Wash. March 10, 2008) (privity of contract and arbitration)  Text

In re Hat, 363 B.R. 123 (Bankr. E.D. Cal. 2007)  Text

Conrad v. Ace Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., No. CV-05-5117-FVS, 2006 WL 1582376 (E.D. Wash. June 5, 2006)

Hartford Cas. Ins. Co. v. Malavos, No. 1:04-CV-6016 OWW LJO, 2005 WL 1836916 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2005)

William J. Mouren Farming, Inc. v. Great Am. Ins. Co., No. CV F 05-0031 AWI LJO, 2005 WL 2064129 (E.D. Cal. Aug, 24, 2005)

Buchholz v. Rural Cmty. Ins. Co., 402 F.Supp. 2d 988 (W.D. Wis. 2005) (preemption)  Text   |    Summary

Farmers Alliance Mut. Ins. Co. v. Poco, L.L.C., No. CV-05-5063-FVS, 2005 WL 2035516 (E.D. Wash. Aug. 23, 2005) (arbitration)   Summary

Farmers Crop Ins. Alliance, Inc. v. Poco, L.L.C., No. CV-05-5058-AAM, 2005 WL 1898476 (E.D. Wash. Aug. 5, 2005)

TENTH CIRCUIT

Sw. Nurseries, L.L.C. v. Florists Mut. Ins., Inc., 266 F.Supp. 2d 1253 (D. Colo. 2003)  Text

ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

Great Am. Ins. Co. v. Moye, No. 8:10-CV-00330-EAK-TGW, 2010 WL 3129548 (M.D. Fla. July 29, 2010) (insurer had duty to indemnify for loss of tomato crop)

Ficus Farms, Inc. v. U.S. Dep't of Agric., Risk Mgmt Agency, No. 08-15527, 2009 WL 1376243 (11th Cir. May 19, 2009) (affirming partial denial of crop insurance benefits)  Text   |    Summary

Ficus Farm, Inc. v. U.S. Dep't of Agric., Risk Mgmt. Agency, No. 07-80263-CIV, 2008 WL 4057741 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 27, 2008) aff'd, No. 08-15527, 2009 WL 1376243 (11th Cir. May 19, 2009)(denial of crop insurance claim)  Text

Nobles v. Rural Cmty. Ins. Serv., Civil Action No. 1:00cv375-MHT, 2007 WL 1599091 (M.D. Ala. June 1, 2007)   Text

Nobles v. Rural Cmty. Ins. Serv., 303 F.Supp. 2d 1292 (M.D. Ala. 2004) (preemption of state law)  Text   |    Summary

D.C. CIRCUIT

Ace Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Fed. Crop Ins. Corp., 517 F.Supp.2d 391 (D.D.C. 2007) (review of FCIC's regulations)  Text

FEDERAL CIRCUIT

Acceptance Ins. Cos. v. United States, 583 F.3d 849 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (RMA declined approval of sale of crop insurance portfolio)  Text

Acceptance Ins. Cos., Inc. v. United States, 84 Fed. Cl. 111 (Fed. Cl. 2008) (no property interest in denial by RMS of proposed policy sale)   Summary

Acceptance Ins. Co. v. United States, 503 F.3d 1328 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (regulatory taking by FCIC)  Text

Acceptance Ins. Co. v. United States, 72 Fed. Cl. 299 (Fed. Cl. 2006)  Text

Ace Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. United States, 138 Fed. App'x 308 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (jurisdiction)   Summary

Tex. Peanut Farmers v. United States, 409 F.3d 1370 (Fed. Cir. 2005)  Text

Ace Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. United States, 60 Fed. Cl. 175 (Fed. Cl. 2004)

Tex. Peanut Farmers v. United States, 59 Fed. Cl. 70 (Fed. Cl. 2003) (jurisdiction)   Summary

Rain & Hail Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Honor, 32 Fed. App'x 544 (Fed. Cir. 2002)

U.S. TAX COURT

Nelson v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue, 130 T.C. No. 5, 2008 WL 540331 (U.S. Tax Ct. 2008) (deferment of crop insurance proceeds)

JUDICIAL PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION

In re Peanut Crop Ins. Litig., 342 F.Supp. 2d 1353 (Jud. Pan. Mult. Lit. 2004) (consolidation of cases)  Text   |    Summary

ARKANSAS

IGF Ins. Co. v. Hat Creek P'ship, 76 S.W.3d 859 (Ark. 2002) (preemption of state law)  Text   |    Summary

CALIFORNIA

Mt. Oso Fruit Co. v. Am. Agrisurance, Inc., No. C045656, 2004 WL 1932614 (Cal. App. Aug. 31, 2004)

Freitas v. Hamlin, No. F039701, 2003 WL 116172 (Cal. App. Jan. 14, 2003)

GEORGIA

Bullington v. Blakely Crop Hail, Inc., 668 S.E.2d 732 (Ga. Ct. App. 2008) (denial of benefits; statute of limitations)  Text   |    Summary

Rain & Hail Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Vickery, 618 S.E.2d 111 (Ga. App. 2005) (adequacy of notice of denial)  Text   |    Summary

Rain & Hail Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Vickery, 618 S.E.2d 111 (Ga. App. 2005) (Merrill doctrine)  Text   |    Summary

IOWA

Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc. v. Rogers, 09-0835, 2010 WL 2602171 (Iowa Ct. App. June 30, 2010) (crop damage due to weed infestation)  Text

Holliday v. Rain & Hail L.L.C., 690 N.W.2d 59 (Iowa 2004) (action against insurance company)   Text   |    Summary

Heaberlin Farms, Inc. v. IGF Ins. Co., 641 N.W.2d 816 (Iowa 2002) (arbitration)  Text   |    Summary

KENTUCKY

Farmes Crop Ins. Alliance, Inc. v. Gray, No. 2009-CA-000969, 2010 WL 5018284 (Ky. Ct. App. Dec. 10, 2010) (limitations term in insurance contract)

Dailey v. Am. Growers Ins., 103 S.W.3d 60 (Ky. 2003) (preemption of state law)  Text   |    Summary

Dailey v. Am. Growers Ins., 103 S.W.3d 60 (Ky. 2003) (Merrill doctrine)  Text   |    Summary

LOUISIANA

Hobbs v. IGF Ins. Co., 834 So. 2d 1069 (La. App. 2002) (preemption of state law; arbitration)  Text   |    Summary

MASSACHUSETTS

ACE Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Comm'r of Revenue, 770 N.E.2d 980 (Mass. 2002) (preemption of state law)  Text   |    Summary

MISSOURI

JBS Farms, Inc. v. Fireman's Fund Agribusiness, Inc., 205 S.W.3d 910 (Mo. App. 2006)  Text

NEBRASKA

Kremer v. Rural Cmty. Ins. Co., 788 N.W.2d 538 (Neb. 2010) (order to compel arbitration in crop insurance claim affirmed)  Text

TENNESSEE

Simms v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., No. E2005-00062-COA-R3-CV, 2005 WL 2604049 (Tenn. App. Oct. 14, 2005) (Merrill doctrine; waiver)  Text   |    Summary