USDA acted improperly in denying claims filed under Crop Disaster Program

The USDA denied the plaintiffs’ applications for federal disaster assistance triggered by freeze damage to citrus crops.  The trial court granted summary judgment for the USDA, but that judgment was vacated on appeal because, with respect to two of the three plaintiffs, the defendant acted arbitrarily and capriciously in denying their claims for relief under the 2000 Crop Disaster Program.  Mahon v. United States Department of Agriculture, 485 F. 3d 1247 (11th Cir. 2007).