March 19, 2025
A Florida federal judge on Wednesday said he is considering appointing a third-party lawyer to advise clients in a multidistrict litigation case on whether they should settle or pursue claims of Chiquita funding a Colombian right-wing paramilitary group that committed war crimes against civilians in Colombia, following arguments from attorneys.
December 02, 2024
A Florida federal judge on Monday approved a fee of more than $229,000 to a law firm for its work in reaching a settlement in the long-running multidistrict litigation over Chiquita Brands International Inc.'s funding of Colombian paramilitaries following a recommendation from a magistrate.
November 18, 2024
Chiquita told a Florida federal court that a landmark $38 million bellwether loss to the families of victims of Colombian right-wing paramilitaries was the "product of numerous legal and evidentiary errors" that handicapped the banana company, which now wants a new trial.
September 05, 2024
A South Florida law firm has urged a federal court to grant it $247,000 for its work in reaching a settlement from the long-running multidistrict litigation over Chiquita Brands International Inc.'s funding of Colombian paramilitaries, saying a fellow attorney waived objections after failing to meet with other lawyers in the case.
August 28, 2024
Attorneys for different sets of plaintiffs in long-running multidistrict litigation over Chiquita Brands International Inc.'s funding of Colombian paramilitary groups are facing off over attorney fees after a settlement in the case.
July 09, 2024
Chiquita said Monday that the $38.3 million verdict won by the families of victims of Colombian right-wing paramilitaries that were funded by the banana grower should be reduced because the damages awarded far exceed the caps on non-economic damages in Colombian law.
June 24, 2024
A Florida federal judge said Monday he would sign off on a proposed $12.8 million settlement between Chiquita Brands International Inc. and some of the victims suing the banana company over its funding of Colombian paramilitary groups.
June 20, 2024
A long-standing rift among plaintiffs' attorneys for victims of violence committed by paramilitary groups funded by Chiquita Brands International Inc. has reached a fever pitch, as attorneys have now told the court they cannot proceed together in a second bellwether trial of the multidistrict litigation set to start next month.
June 10, 2024
The first bellwether trial in multidistrict litigation against Chiquita over its funding of right-wing paramilitaries in Colombia's banana-producing region ended with a victory Monday afternoon for nearly all the plaintiffs, as a Florida federal jury awarded them $38.3 million in damages for the losses of their loved ones killed by paramilitaries.
June 07, 2024
A Florida federal jury on Friday began deliberating whether Chiquita is liable for several deaths at the hands of right-wing paramilitary organization Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia although deliberations paused in the afternoon and are scheduled to resume on Monday.