< Back to Previous Page Lawsuit against Chiquita to Be Heard in Florida A massive lawsuit against the Chiquita brands banana company claims that it paid paramilitary groups to kill thousands of people in Colombia. The Ohio-based company is saying that it is, in fact, the victim of oppression from the Colombian military groups. It says that it was forced to pay large sums of money to groups that controlled the lands where its bananas were grown. The protection money ended up in the coffers of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, which has been responsible for massacres, kidnappings, intimidations, and assassinations that have taken place throughout the country. Plaintiffs claim that Chiquita paid the AUC and the FARC military forces large quantities of money for protection. Both of these organizations are recognized as terrorists by the United States government. Because they are backed by Chiquita and because they have their hands deep in the mire of murder and intimidation in Colombia, plaintiffs may be able to prove that Chiquita should be held responsible for billions of dollars in wrongful death damages. Chiquita is appealing to the courts to have the case dismissed. However, the families and loved ones of the people who were injured or killed in Colombia will not let this case go without a fight. In their eyes, Chiquita is at least partially responsible for the violence, and should pay some damages to the survivors. For more information about personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, contact the experts at Porter and Korvick law offices today.