Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Arkansas Times

Arkansas Blog

« Securities commissioner raps Morgan… | We're over the hump »

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Law Rotten tomato crops produce lawyer reprimand

Posted by Max Brantley on Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 4:29 PM

Sarah Vestal, a former Arkansan now living in California, sent me this copy of a recent decision by the Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct issuing a reprimand and fine of $1,500, plus $50 costs, to Graham Catlett, a Little Rock lawyer, over Vestal's complaint about Catlett's role in a failed organic tomato business.

The Catlett-Vestal partnership grew rancorous years ago and resulted in a lawsuit, ultimately settled, over Vestal Gourmet Foods, set up to grow organic tomatoes near Sheridan. The crux of the professional conduct complaint is over actions by Catlett after a greenhouse and regular organic tomato crop failed in 2005. The report says non-organic tomatoes were purchased and labeled as organic to supply to Vestal customers. Vestal and Catlett were feuding over the business and Vestal filed a complaint with the USDA over the mislabeling. Ultimately, the USDA revoked the firm's organic certification.

Vestal also complained to the lawyer disciplinary agency. It cited Catlett under a rule that says dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation can be professional misconduct. Stark Ligon, director of the agency, said Catlett did not ask for a public hearing and accepted the committee's decision. It was filed Wednesday with the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Tags: organic tomatoes, Sarah Vestal, Graham Catlett, Stark Ligon, Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct.

        
Tweet
Share

Comments (7)

Showing 1-7 of 7

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-7 of 7

More by Max Brantley

LR cop relieved of duty over Fayetteville bar incident

Update on the Billy's Bar brouhaha in Fayetteville (video above) that I mentioned again this morning.
- by Max Brantley
- Apr 15, 2013
Massive resistance to Obamacare produces results

Sarah Kliff at the Washington Post's Wonkblog disputes those who think serial votes by the U.S. House against Obamacare are meaningless political theater.
- by Max Brantley
- May 16, 2013
More »