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established a social and professional relationship. As a result
of Sullivan's personal relationship with Meinke, Sullivan and
Woodburn were designated as co-general partners of Yuma Mesa.
The existence of the jojoba industry came to the attention
of the principals of the Meinke firm through the efforts of a
business client, Almand, who attended a seminar on jojoba and
reported that at the seminar he had been told that jojoba was
"the thing of the future." Almand's enthusiasm about jojoba led
the principal members of the Meinke firm to conduct their own
inquiry into the jojoba industry. This inquiry included many
phone calls and requests for prospectuses and copies of
agreements used in setting up a jojoba venture. Satisfied with
the information they received, the principals of the Meinke firm
decided to become involved in the jojoba industry.
Sullivan and Woodburn also investigated the jojoba industry.
Neither Woodburn nor Sullivan, both attorneys, had any prior
experience in agriculture or in the growing of jojoba. Woodburn
and Sullivan attended two seminars aimed at potential investors
in the jojoba industry, and Woodburn gathered together some
available literature on jojoba. At least one, if not both, of
the seminars Woodburn and Sullivan attended was organized by the
Meinke firm.
Yuma Mesa was financed through a private placement as
described infra. The operation was conducted by Hilltop
Plantations, Inc., and Mesa Plantation, Inc., with management and
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