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pesticides, that he improperly watered his orchids, that he used
improper sanitation methods, that he improperly cleaned his
equipment, and that he otherwise used other poor growing prac-
tices. In a report that du Pont had prepared prior to the trial
in the lawsuit, Eugene Moody concluded that "the problems at
Henry's Paradise of Orchids, Florida are [due] to poor plant
management methods". Du Pont's attacks on Mr. Henry's business
reputation and his reputation as an orchid grower were reported
in 1993 in certain newspapers.
During the trial in the lawsuit, which lasted from August
23, 1993, through September 23, 1993, du Pont contested Mr.
Henry's ability to grow orchids, his knowledge of growing or-
chids, his growing practices, and his ability to sell orchids.
During that trial, Dr. Poole, one of du Pont's experts, testified
that he found disease in Mr. Henry's orchid nursery and improper
cultural practices. Another of du Pont's experts, James B. Werle
(Mr. Werle), a certified public accountant, valued the total loss
of the plaintiffs at between $172,995 and $267,803 and valued
their inventory at $75,000. That was du Pont's position at the
end of the trial in the lawsuit.
During closing arguments to the jury after the trial in the
lawsuit, one of du Pont's attorneys argued that Mr. Henry's
credibility was at issue and that du Pont had shown that Mr.
Henry did not use good growing practices.
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