(1) (a) If a buyer of seed suffers damage because such seed does not produce or perform in conformance with the labeling or warranty or because of negligence by the seller, the buyer shall submit such buyer's claim to arbitration pursuant to this section and section 35-27-122. Such submittal shall be a prerequisite to such buyer's right to maintain any legal action against the seller of such seed. Any statute of limitations shall be tolled until ten days after the filing of the arbitration report.
(b) No claim may be asserted as a counterclaim or defense in any action brought pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) by a seller against a buyer, if the buyer has not submitted such claim to arbitration. After the buyer files a written notice of intention to assert a claim as a counterclaim or defense in such action, accompanied by a copy of the buyer's complaint filed under section 35-27-122 (2)(a), the statute of limitations shall be tolled for such claim until ten days after the filing of the arbitration report pursuant to section 35-27-122 (2)(d).
(2) (a) Every label required pursuant to section 35-27-105 shall include clear language that arbitration is required for claims arising out of the sale of seed; except that arbitration shall not be required if the notice required pursuant to this paragraph (a) is not included.
(b) A notice in the following form or equivalent language shall be sufficient to comply with paragraph (a) of this subsection (2):
NOTICE OF REQUIRED ARBITRATION
UNDER THE "COLORADO SEED ACT", ARTICLE 27 OF TITLE 35, COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, ARBITRATION IS REQUIRED AS A PREREQUISITE TO CERTAIN LEGAL ACTIONS, COUNTERCLAIMS, OR DEFENSES AGAINST A SELLER OF SEED. INFORMATION ABOUT THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COLORADO COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.
(3) (a) An arbitration report filed pursuant to section 35-27-122 (2)(d) shall be binding upon all parties to the extent agreed upon in any contract governing the sale which was the subject of the arbitration.
In the absence of an agreement to be bound by arbitration, a buyer may bring legalaction against a seller or assert such claim as a counterclaim or defense in any action brought by the seller at any time after the arbitration report has been filed.
During litigation involving a complaint which has been arbitrated pursuant to thissection, any party who was subject to such arbitration may introduce the arbitration report as evidence of the facts found in the report if the party against whom the report is offered was also subject to the arbitration. The court may give such weight to the council's findings and conclusions of law and recommendations as to damages and costs as the court sees fit based upon all the evidence before the court. The court may also take into account any finding of the arbitration council of any failure of any party to cooperate in such arbitration proceedings, including any finding as to the effect of delay in filing the arbitration claim or answer upon the ability of the arbitration council to determine the facts of the case.
Source: L. 93: Entire article R&RE, p. 1020, § 1, effective July 1.