Opinion ID: 793809
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Doebler Family Members and Their Businesses

Text: 4 Taylor A. Doebler, Sr. (Doebler I) started the family seed corn business in the 1930s doing business as T.A. Doebler. In the early 1950s, his son Taylor A. Doebler, Jr. (Doebler II) joined the business, which became a partnership under the name of T.A. Doebler & Son (Partnership). For many years, the Partnership used the Doebler surname as a trademark in selling corn seed. Doebler I died in 1981. In the 1990s, Doebler II's son, Taylor A. Doebler, III (Doebler III), joined the Partnership. 5 Other family members were involved in the business as well, and on several occasions, Doebler II formed additional entities. In December of 1972, Doebler II formed plaintiff Doeblers' Pennsylvania Hybrids, Inc. (Hybrids), to handle sales and distribution. In addition to Doebler II, the incorporators included his son-in-law Willard L. Jones, and his nephew William R. Camerer, III. The vast majority of the initial stock belonged to Doebler II, though Camerer and Jones owned a small amount of stock. All three families were represented on Hybrids' board of directors as well. Currently, Jones and Camerer are officers, directors, and shareholders in Hybrids. Prior to the events directly leading to the present suit, the stock owned by Jones and Camerer increased to approximately 36% each. 6 In 1986, Doebler II formed another entity, Doebler Farmland, Inc. (Farmland). Doebler II transferred land to Farmland, which in turn leased the property back to Partnership to grow seeds. As of 2003, Doebler III and his two sisters collectively owned the majority of Farmland stock, with nearly all the remainder belonging to Jones, Camerer, and various other members of the Jones and Camerer families. Thus, the Partnership's original functions were ultimately split between Partnership, Hybrids, and Farmland. 7 Before his relationship with Camerer and Jones soured, Doebler III had ties to all three entities: he was partnered with his father in the Partnership and remains an owner of the successor LLC; he is co-owner of Farmland; and he was — but no longer is — a shareholder, director, and secretary/treasurer of Hybrids. After his father's death in 2002 and as part of the events leading to this lawsuit, Doebler III reorganized Partnership as a limited liability company, Doebler Seeds, LLC, d/b/a T.A. Doebler Seeds (LLC). 8 In contrast, at no point did Camerer or Jones ever have any ownership interest in the Partnership or its successor LLC. They are, however, shareholders and directors of Hybrids and have served as officers in varying capacities. 1 Jones eventually succeeded Doebler II as Hybrids president. Camerer served as vice-president until he was removed in 2000 due to alleged misconduct. Ironically, as noted below, Camerer succeeded Jones as president in 2002. Camerer is also the owner and president of another entity, Camerer Farms, Inc. (Camerer Farms), a farm that produces corn seed also sold by Hybrids. 2