Montana Code Annotated
Part 5. Agricultural Commodity Warehouse Operators
80-4-531. Duty to deliver stored agricultural commodities -- weights and inspections -- modifying agreements -- damages

80-4-531. Duty to deliver stored agricultural commodities -- weights and inspections -- modifying agreements -- damages. (1) The duty of the warehouse operator to deliver agricultural commodities stored is governed by this part. Upon the return of a properly endorsed warehouse receipt to the warehouse operator and upon payment or tender of all advances and legal charges, agricultural commodities of the grade and quantity named therein must be delivered to the holder of the warehouse receipt.
(2) The holder of the warehouse receipt is entitled to an official inspection, as specified by the federal grain inspection service in the regulations implementing the United States Grain Standards Act. Inspections other than official must be agreed to in writing by the warehouse operator and the holder of the warehouse receipt.
(3) (a) The holder of a warehouse receipt is entitled to class X or Y weights or better, as specified by the federal grain inspection service in the regulations implementing the United States Grain Standards Act.
(b) In the event an approved class X or Y weight is unavailable at the warehouse of origin, the following weights take precedence in this order:
(i) destination official or certified class X or Y or better; or
(ii) railroad track scale weights.
(4) The parties to a storage agreement are bound by an agreement made under this section and intended to supplement or modify the optional sections of the warehouse receipt if the agreement offer is made in writing and the receiving party fails to reject the offer in writing within 10 days of receipt of the written offer. In order to be valid, the agreement offer must state in boldface type that the receiving party has 10 days to reject the offer.
(5) A warehouse operator's duty to deliver any agricultural commodity is fulfilled if delivery is made pursuant to the contract with the depositor as rapidly as it can be done by ordinary diligence. When delivery is made within 48 hours from date of demand or as agreed upon in writing by all parties concerned, the delivery complies with the provisions of this section. An extension of the delivery period may be granted by the department upon written request.
(6) All redeliveries must be made at the warehouse or station where the agricultural commodity was received unless otherwise agreed.
(7) At the option of the depositor, the warehouse operator shall deliver the agricultural commodity at a terminal or, if mutually agreed, shall pay to the depositor the equivalent market value of the agricultural commodity on that date, less any freight and storage charges to the terminal and less other charges which may be allowed by the department.
(8) In addition to other penalties provided, a warehouse operator failing to deliver agricultural commodities within the time provided in this section is subject to suit by the person entitled to delivery of the agricultural commodities and may be ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction to pay actual damages or liquidated damages of 1/2 of 1% of the value for each day's delay.
History: En. Sec. 38, Ch. 539, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 297, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 452, L. 1993.

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