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NEW Cooperative and two of its employees are being sued after Landus Cooperative said they stole critical trade information and customers, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court last week.
Landus said it has lost over $250,000 in payments refunded to former customers after two disgruntled employees, Brian Berns and Jeffrey Headley, left the Ames-based farmers’ co-op in December for NEW Co-op, based in Fort Dodge. At least 18 farmers with business at Landus have asked to have their soil samples sent to NEW Co-op.
In court filings, Landus has requested expedited temporary and permanent injunctions against NEW, pending trial, to prevent further damage during “prepay season,” the time from November to February in which farmers get the best discount by prepaying for products and services. In support of the injunctions, the suit accuses Berns and Headley of destroying evidence critical to the case.