Coffie et al v. Florida Crystals Corporation et al

  1. February 28, 2022

    Florida Residents Drop Suit Targeting Sugarcane Burns

    A Florida federal judge has closed a proposed class action lawsuit in which South Florida residents had targeted the state's multibillion-dollar sugar industry and pre-harvest sugarcane burns they claimed emitted toxic "black snow" in the Glades region.

  2. July 02, 2021

    Fla. Class Action Survives Sugar Industry Dismissal Bids

    Florida residents' proposed class action against Florida Crystals Corp., United States Sugar Corp. and other leading sugar producers over air pollution caused by their pre-harvest sugarcane burns survived another round of motions to dismiss from the companies, although a federal judge trimmed two counts in his ruling Friday.

  3. May 03, 2021

    Fla. Farm Bill Ripped As Sly Attack On Sugar Industry Suits

    A farm rights bill signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking heat from critics as a targeted attack on a pending lawsuit against the state's multibillion-dollar sugar industry and a surreptitious move to block similar cases in the future by labeling them "nuisance lawsuits."

  4. May 08, 2020

    Judge Seeks More Facts In Suit Over 'Toxic' Sugar Cane Burns

    A Florida federal judge on Friday told plaintiffs suing the state's sugar producers that they need to come back with more details about how they've been harmed by preharvest sugar cane burns in order to bring their claims that the resulting "black snow" has hurt their health and property values.

  5. June 05, 2019

    Fla. Suit Targets Farms' 'Toxic' Sugarcane Burns

    Two South Florida residents are taking on Florida's multibillion-dollar sugar industry in a proposed class action filed Tuesday that seeks to stop pre-harvest sugarcane burns they say emit a toxic "black snow" that wreaks havoc on neighbors' health and property values.