Bruce Foods awarded $1.1M in fraud case in 19th Judicial District

New Orleans CityBusiness, May 26, 2009

Bruce Foods has won a lawsuit that claimed the Louisiana food manufacturer committed fraud, and a jury awarded $1.1 million to the company, law firm Adams and Reese said today.

Chef Reece Williams sued Bruce following Bruce's 2003 purchase of Williams' Cajun Injector products. Under the contract, Williams entered into a consulting agreement with Bruce Foods. Two years later, Williams sued Bruce, claiming that he was fraudulently forced to sell the products. Williams sought up to $24 million in damages at the trial.

After a five-day trial in 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, the jury found there was no fraud on behalf of Bruce and ruled that Williams had breached the 2003 purchase agreement.

The $1.1 million in favor of Bruce included attorneys fees.

Bruce was founded in 1928 in New Iberia.

Adams and Reese has Louisiana offices in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.