Reedley farmer's legal dispute continues after nectarine giveaway

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The legal battle involving Reedley farmer Cesar Mora, whose viral nectarine giveaway drew national attention, continued Tuesday in Fresno County Civil Court as attorneys prepared for a trial in a years-long contract dispute.

Mora, who became widely known after giving away thousands of pounds of nectarines earlier this month, appeared in a Fresno County civil courtroom as proceedings moved forward in his lawsuit involving Los Angeles-based produce supplier Giumarra Brothers Fruit Company.

"I should be picking them. But I'm not. All because of a giant ag corporation who is preventing me from doing anything with this crop," Mora said in a social media video previously posted during the dispute.

Attorneys from both sides had been scheduled to participate in a pretrial conference to discuss evidence and witness testimony ahead of trial. However, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Steven Crass postponed the proceedings after both parties filed a combined 17 last-minute motions, some submitted shortly before midnight Monday.

Action News legal analyst Tony Capozzi said such filings are common as a case approaches trial.

"You file a motion that says, judge, you should keep this evidence out because it's irrelevant to this case. And the other way it can work for the other side is I want to bring evidence in, and I want to make sure you're going to allow it now," Capozzi said.

Following more than an hour of closed-door discussions, Mora's attorneys initiated settlement talks with Giumarra Brothers. Those negotiations ultimately failed.

"If there's a breach of contract, there may be some damages, and then there might be some punitive damages, punishment damages," Capozzi said.

"So it behooves the defense if they feel as though there's a problem with the case to settle it," he added.

The dispute stems from a 2023 lawsuit filed by Giumarra Brothers, which alleges Mora violated an agreement by selling his white Monalise nectarines to another supplier.

Unable to legally sell the crop during the litigation, Mora announced on social media that he would give away more than 100,000 pounds of nectarines instead.

"Might as well give it away, the fruit's great fruit, top quality fruit, it's obviously in good condition or else I don't think people would be out here wanting it," Mora said at the time.

His "No Nectarines Wasted" campaign attracted widespread attention and support, with supporters raising more than $60,000 that Mora said would be used to help pay legal expenses.

"Really, it's probably the most uplifting thing that's happened in the last year or so," Mora said.

The case remains on track for trial as the two sides continue to dispute the alleged breach of contract and its financial consequences.

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