Plant nursery sale in dispute

La Casa Verde plant nursery and produce market in Tucumcari has been put on the market, though one of the co-owners filed a civil complaint to potentially block the sale.

David White, majority owner of La Casa Verde, on Aug. 2 listed the property at 724 E. Main St. on Trousdale Real Estate for $165,000.

The minority owner, Steve Farmer, three days later filed a civil complaint in Quay County court, stating White is unable to comply with the terms of his contract with the property and requests $80,000 from him, plus interest, court costs and the value of a $500 Epsom printer.

Farmer also filed a notice of lis pendens - or claimed interest in the property - to prevent a sale.

"Full ownership approval as not been granted by the co-owner," the filing stated.

Reached by phone, White was reluctant to get into the reasons he is selling La Casa Verde and added: "I'm not going to badmouth Steve or what he's got going."

White finally said: "If he could just finish getting the financing, it could be his. If not, I've got to step out of a mountain of debt. And the only thing I have to do to get out from under that debt is the sale of this property.

"I love this business. I love this city. I'm going to continue to be a positive member of this community and bring business and revenue to this city. But I've got to do some things different. I've lost my behind the last two years on agriculture, and it's just time for a change."

White said he's received interest in the property "because there's no other nursery business in town. This is a jewel of a little business for the right person."

Reached by phone, Farmer said: "I am not trying to stop the sale of the store. I'm simply stating I'm not part of trying to sell it and not selling my portion of the store."

Farmer said he and White "are in a position to complete this transaction" and wants to avoid "collateral damage" with the business.

Farmer said he was optimistic he and White will work something out.

"I feel strongly that everything will be done to get this deal done, like like we're supposed to," he said. "I think this will have a favorable outcome."