A legal dispute involving a Mexican entity and a Canadian importer was resolved in British Columbia. The case commenced in September 2017 when Vancouver-based GC Importers Ltd. (not to confuse with GC Imports) engaged Exporavo Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada for avocado shipments. Exporavo, from Michoacan, Mexico, handles various fruits, including avocados.
GC Importers Ltd.'s failure to settle invoices led to legal proceedings. The matter extended over several years. On March 27, 2024, a communication from the defendants' former legal representative to Exporavo's counsel stated, "We have a deal." Yet, Exporavo's final settlement proposal in October 2024 elicited no reply, with repeated attempts to reach the company resulting in automated responses.
During the court proceedings, defendant Armando Alan Garcia Castillon contended that unresolved issues remained between the parties, as noted by Justice Karrie Anne Wolfe in a ruling dated February 19 and published later. Garcia Castillon disputed the inclusion of a $70,000 payment in the settlement, despite email evidence suggesting otherwise.
Justice Wolfe dismissed the argument that a written agreement was necessary for a binding settlement, citing a lack of support from court precedents or case facts. Consequently, Exporavo received an award of $70,000 for the outstanding avocado shipments and an additional $3,000 for legal costs.
Source: BIV