Chicago Prime Packers, Inc., was a Colorado corporation with its principal place of business in Avon, Colorado. Northam Food Trading Company was a Canadian corporation with its principal place of business in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Chicago Prime and Northam were wholesalers of meat products. In March 2001, Chicago Prime contracted with Northam to sell 1,350 boxes of government inspected fresh, blast frozen pork back ribs, which Chicago Prime purchased from Brookfield Farms, a meat processor. The agreed on price for the ribs was $178,200.00, and payment was required within seven days from the date of shipment. The ribs were stored at three different locations en route to Northam's customer Beacon Premium Meats but at all times were stored at or below acceptable temperatures. However, the ribs ultimately proved to be spoiled and were condemned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nevertheless, Chicago Prime continued to demand payment from Northam. Chicago Prime sued Northam for breach of contract because it refused to pay for the ribs.
1. What was the court's decision with respect to Chicago Prime Packer's claim for breach of contract?
2. What should Northam have done in order to avoid the result in this case?
3. Is the court's opinion overly harsh given that Northam was only a trading company and not the end user of the product? Why or why not?