No. The rice company didn't own the rice because the sale was never finalized. Louisiana law is clear: when you sell things by weight, the buyer doesn't become the owner until the items are actually weighed. Think of buying candy from a bulk bin; you don't own it until the cashier weighs it to determine the final price. Since Gulf Rice never weighed the rice, they never completed the most important step of the purchase. Therefore, the rice still belonged to Mr. Sonnier, and he was free to sell it to someone else after Gulf Rice missed the deadline.

No, Gulf Rice did not own Mr. Sonnier's rice in November 2003 because the sale wasn't complete. In Louisiana, buying and selling crops like rice isn't final until the crops are weighed and measured, and both the buyer and seller sign a written agreement. Here, Mr. Sonnier's rice was never weighed or tested by Gulf Rice, and they never figured out the final price. Plus, Gulf Rice and Mr. Sonnier never signed a written agreement. So, Mr. Sonnier still owned the rice and Gulf Rice shouldn't have taken it or his money. The jury was right to make Gulf Rice pay Mr. Sonnier $100,000 for embarrassing him, making him worry, and causing him trouble, especially since he's a rice farmer and this hurt his business.

No. A completed sale of the rice did not occur because ownership does not transfer for goods sold by weight or measure until they are actually weighed or measured. The court reasoned that this transaction was governed by Louisiana Civil Code art. 2458, which distinguishes sales 'by weight, tale, or measure' from sales 'in a lump.' Because the final price for Sonnier's rice depended on the outcome of future weighing, milling, and testing, the price was not yet fixed, and the quantity was not yet determined. Citing the precedent of *Kohler v. Huth Const. Co.*, which held that a sale of coal per ton was not complete until weighed, the court found that ownership of the rice remained with Sonnier. As ownership never transferred to Gulf Rice, Sonnier did not breach any contract by selling the rice to another party after Gulf Rice failed to meet the pickup deadline.

No, Gulf Rice did not become the owner of Mr. Sonnier's rice in November 2003 because the sale was not complete. Under Louisiana law, a sale of agricultural commodities like rice is not final until the goods are weighed, counted, or measured and a written contract signed by both parties is required for title to pass. Here, Mr. Sonnier's rice was never weighed, tested, or a final price determined by Gulf Rice. Additionally, the written confirmation was not signed by either party. Therefore, ownership did not transfer to Gulf Rice and its seizure of Mr. Sonnier's rice and proceeds was wrongful. The jury did not abuse its discretion in awarding $100,000 in general damages to Mr. Sonnier for the embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish and worry caused by the wrongful seizure, considering the particular circumstances and effects on Mr. Sonnier as a rice farmer whose livelihood was threatened.

GULF RICE MILLING, INC. v. Sonnier

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