Opinion ID: 2813646
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Transfers of the Combine

Text: This appeal focuses primarily on a series of transactions involving a combine. The initial transaction involved a sale from Deere & Company to Mr. Donnie Bergkamp. Mr. Bergkamp authorized Mr. Larry Cabelka, of Golden Triangle, to resell or rent the combine. Mr. Cabelka ultimately agreed to give some interest in the combine to Stanley and Steve McCuiston. Mr. Cabelka claims the transfer involved a rental; the McCuistons insist there was a sale. 2 If there was a sale, however, the combine would have come with a lien in favor of Deere. See Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 1-9-315(a)(1) (2011). The lien was triggered when Mr. Bergkamp failed to pay Deere, which in turn sued Golden Triangle, Mr. Cabelka, and the McCuistons (everyone that had possessed the combine). Golden Triangle and Mr. Cabelka filed cross-claims against the McCuistons for conversion and breach of contract, and the McCuistons filed their own claims against 3 Golden Triangle for breach of warranty and against Mr. Cabelka for constructive fraud and negligent misrepresentation. Deere and the McCuistons settled, with the McCuistons paying Deere $65,000. 1 But the settlement did not terminate the cross-claims, which involve disputes on  whether the McCuistons had rented or purchased the combine, and  whether the McCuistons had paid the purchase price for the combine. The McCuistons say they bought the combine unaware there was a lien in favor of Deere. Golden Triangle and Mr. Cabelka insist the McCuistons were fully aware of the Deere lien and had simply rented the combine because they did not have enough money to buy it. The district court sided with the McCuistons, awarding them $65,000, 2 the amount they had agreed to pay Deere for the combine. Golden Triangle and Mr. Cabelka challenge the award to the McCuistons.