Agracat goes after Montana

DavesTractor · Apr 6, 2006

Maka,

Well said! I think if Montana were doing poorly and losing a lot of money (which I am sure is not at all true) then Agracat wouldn't want part of the action. Even though Montana is our competitor, I still respect the job JB Hunt and the dealer network has done. Let's just hope justice is done and no harm is done to Montana that is not warranted.

A person could be sued for wearing green socks on a Wednesday...but that does not mean there is merit to the claim nor that there will be any success.

Disclaimer....I know nothing of the merits of this case, this is just a general observation.

Maka · Apr 6, 2006

Thanks guys.

Maka

TillerofdaEarth · Apr 6, 2006

"I thought that I had already posted this, but I looked at the thread and I hadn't."

You did post it and it disappeared along with another post you made. Hmmmmmmmm. Whats up with that?

JerryG · Apr 7, 2006

The more that you look into this thing, the stranger it gets. AgraCat’s accountant is now a one third owner in Montana.

cowboydoc · Apr 7, 2006

"I thought that I had already posted this, but I looked at the thread and I hadn't."

You did post it and it disappeared along with another post you made. Hmmmmmmmm. Whats up with that?



Some people cannot refrain from insulting and calling names. Unfortunately all replies to those posts are also removed. Jerry's post got removed along with the post that was name calling.

linpat · Apr 7, 2006

There is way too much brand loyalty in some of the forums and it is this brand loyalty that causes people with blinders on to ignore or overlook some facts. Every brand has warts, weakspots and flaws. We'd all be better off if we each accepted that fact.

amen brother!!!!!

JerryG · Apr 7, 2006

Thanks Richard. I thought that I posted more.

JerryG · Apr 7, 2006

The more that you look into this thing, the stranger it gets. AgraCat’s accountant is now a one third owner in Montana. 
Looks like he was hired as a financial advisor since it appears that was what he mainly does and then he was also their account.

Egon · Apr 7, 2006

With the blinders off and no brand loyalty do you not think the proletariate wishes to know what goes on and what they receive for their hard earned dollars? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

Chipperman · Apr 24, 2006

JerryG
I thought there was another thread started about this but I cannot find it anymore. I want to state up front Montana is a fine tractor and I wish them success in their endeavors. People have asked for any facts related to this and I was just forwarded this from Google.

 Trucking company founder Hunt named in lawsuit

Monday, April 24, 2006 1:47 AM CDT

SPRINGDALE, Ark. - A lawsuit accuses trucking company founder J.B Hunt of conspiring to steal a tractor and ATV distributor from its founders.

The lawsuit was filed in Washington County Circuit Court on behalf of Agracat, Inc. The suit named Hunt as a defendant, along with AFS-NWA LLC, Charles Goforth, Downing and Associates Inc., Dan Downing, Outsource Investments LLC, J.B. Hunt LLC and 10 John Does.

Hunt founded the Lowell trucking company that bears his name.

The suit says Agracat was formed in July 2000, designing equipment including tractors, farm implements and all-terrain vehicles.

Outsource Investments was formed in September 2002 by Downing, and also owned by Hunt and Goforth. The suit alleges that Outsource lent money to Agracat to buy inventory, but that AFS-NWA and Downing began transactions and payments to Agracat employees that misappropriated Agracat's contracts.

Fayetteville attorney David Nixon filed the suit. He said in a statement that those contractual relations are now being used by Montana Tractor, a company Hunt started in Springdale.

Mel Robinson of Springdale, an Agracat founder and former officer, said Agracat approached Hunt and others to serve as business partners.

Robinson said Agracat officers made about $104,000 a year before AFS-NWA reduced the officers' salaries to $500 a month in January of 2004. Robinson claimed that reduction was part of "a hostile, illegal takeover" of Agracat by the defendants.

The lawsuit does not specify damages, but Robinson estimated the three former Agracat officers suffered losses in the millions. He said there were also 17 other shareholders.

"This ... crushed 20 people, not to count the small businesses that supplied us that literally could not take the hit," Robinson said.

Fayetteville attorney Ken Shemin filed a response Monday on behalf of Hunt, Goforth, Downing, AFS-NWA and the other defendants. Shemin asked the court to dismiss Agracat's lawsuit and order Agracat to pay court costs and attorney's fees.

Information from: The Morning News, http://www.nwaonline.net/

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

)
Happy tractoring
Chipperman /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

CMunger · May 5, 2006

If Agricat wins the lawsuit do you think they will change the name to "Montana Cat"?

GeneD14 · May 5, 2006

( If Agricat wins the lawsuit do you think they will change the name to "Montana Cat"?
)
How about "Agra-anna" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JerryG · May 5, 2006

Here is a PDF file that has some more information.

gemini5362 · Aug 8, 2006

Well at least the Montana group have a Very top Notch Attorney. that should help a lot with the lawsuit

CDsdad · Aug 8, 2006

The lawyers are the only ones who'll probably come out ahead.

gemini5362 · Aug 8, 2006

JerryG. I took the time to go back and look at some of your postings in this Forum. I feel that your posts are pretty negative and give the impression that you are trying to discourage competition by casting doubts on the Montana tractor ownership being in buisness in the coming years. I do notice that most of the Montana dealers on this forum try to point out the good things about their product and answer questions. This is a much better aproach I believe than trying to sell your product by saying the other guy wont be in buisness so buy from me. If you are the Massey Ferguson dealer in NWA ( I believe it was near Siloam Springs or some where around there It has been a while since I was there. I visited your dealership and you have some nice products there. I looked at one of your models with a cab and a FEl that was comparable to my 4940C only had about 14 HP less if my memory is correct Problem for me was the 150 Per Cent Price difference over my 4940C. I owned a MF65 for a lot of years and it was a great tractor for my use. I just could not see paying a lot more for a tractor that would not do anything more than my 4940C would do. One of the things that attracted me to the Montana was that it had a Mitsubishi Diesel engine. One of the facts that I know is that Mitsubishi has been making diesel engines for marine use and for big trucks for a very very long time. I kind of figured they might know what they are doing in that area. Would you refresh my memory for me. Who makes the engines for MF utility tractors

gemini5362

JerryG · Aug 9, 2006

You need to go back and read them a little more carefully. I went out of my way to present what I did in a way that only told what was actually known publicly. I don’t think that anything was told that was not. That is unless you are referring to the comment about people will be surprised. I was about several things and I think that other will be also. With a little research anyone could have found it out. I didn't speculate in any post. I do believe that the tractor line will continue because they appear to be one of the better second tier tractors on the market. But, it makes no difference to me because I have no financial dealings with either side and will not be effected what ever the outcome. I am not a dealer and have not been associated with one for quite a number of years. I do know several people that will be involved with the suite. They range from the ground level on up. I spoke to these people while all of this was taking place. If I had wanted to say something that wasn’t public knowledge, there are lots of things that I could have told. I chose not to and will not until after the court proceedings are final.

CDsdad · Aug 9, 2006

gemini5362 said:
JerryG. I took the time to go back and look at some of your postings in this Forum. I feel that your posts are pretty negative and give the impression that you are trying to discourage competition by casting doubts on the Montana tractor ownership being in buisness in the coming years.

I dont' know JerryG personally. I only know him from reading his posts on this board. I also seem to have missed his negativity in this thread as well as other forums. I have observed his helpfulness, insight, and willingness to share his obviously extensive knowledge in many forums, regardless of brand. Perhaps the truth as known to one person can be seen as negativity by another. I am also sure JerryG is more than capable of defending his opinions, positions, and knowledge that he shares without help from anyone else. On several occasions I have read the supporting documentation he has posted. Funny how different people can read something and come to two different conclusions.

Maka · Aug 9, 2006

Hello JerryG. Hope all is well. Have you seen any new developments that you can share. I know you don't want to post second hand info but has there been any new published info that we can link to and read. I have not seen anything new out of Washington County but hey, I could have over looked something.

Thanks,
Maka

JerryG · Aug 9, 2006

Hello Maka. I haven't seen anything new lately. The last thing that I heard was that a jury trial had been requested. I don't know what the ruling was. I need to get up with one of the people that I know and find out.