Opinion ID: 1711020
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: testimony on last use of tracks

Text: Don Barnett testified that his company was a tenant of Stewart Seed from 1979 to sometime in 1981 and that an estimated 30 to 40 carloads of product came to his company via the tracks. Fuller's notes showed that the tracks were last used in February 1980. However, Fuller testified that Stewart Seed and/or its tenants used the tracks from 1979 through 1983 and then, as I recall, there was a couple of more cars in like `84 or `85. On cross-examination, Fuller testified that the tracks were used from 1976 to 1983 for sure, and I think 1984 and `85. However, upon further cross-examination, Fuller stated that she did not have the records showing usage of the track in 1983 or after and that the Brandon railroad would have those records. Records of the Brandon Corporation, the railroad company that serviced the tracks, showed use of the tracks approximately 54 times between May 1979 and April 1981. On direct examination, Bob Antczak, president of the Brandon Corporation, stated that he did not have records after 1981 and therefore could not say whether any cars were moved over the tracks after 1981. Fil Catania, one of Stewart Seed's tenants, was asked on direct examination, [W]hat was the last year that you can recall receiving a car on the spur track? Catania stated, Between `80 and `83, `84, somewhere in there. Hillary's counsel then read the testimony that Catania gave when he was deposed by U.S. Cold's counsel. Catania's deposition testimony indicated that he used the tracks sometime prior to 1988, but that he was less than certain about the exact year he last used the tracks. In its order, the district court found that the tracks were not used after 1981 or so.