TAMPA - A Dade City couple won a $6.8 million verdict Thursday against Wal-Mart, claiming the retailer broke a contract and effectively ended their family business.
      Steven and Terry Smith and their company, Ameripride Distribution Inc., convinced a federal jury they had signed a contract in 1995 to do promotional sales of frozen beef, chicken and seafood in Wal-Mart stores nationwide.
      The contract predicted Ameripride ultimately would earn $17 million annually, Ameripide attorney Christopher Knopik said.
      But September 1996, Knopik said, Wal-Mart told the couple they would not be allowed to do any more business with Wal-Mart, breaching their contract.
      Jurors agreed after seven days of testimony and nearly 5 hours of deliberation, awarding Ameripride $3.8 million for breach of contract plus $3 million because Wal-Mart officials made misrepresentations to the Smiths about the deal.
      "A small, truly mom-and-pop organization, if it is wronged by the world's largest retailer, can come into an American courtroom, seek justice and get it," Knopik said.
      Wal-Mart tried to convince jurors that Ameripride had not completed its part of the contract.
      Attorneys for Wal-Mart could not be reached for comment Thursday.

05/29/98