Judge Upholds $38M Verdict Against Chiquita

Judge Upholds $38M Verdict Against Chiquita

Introduction

In June 2024, a federal court jury found Chiquita Brands International liable for financing Colombia’s paramilitary group, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), and awarded a total of $38 million to 16 plaintiffs whose loved ones were murdered by the AUC.

Each plaintiff received an award of at least $2 million. On October 18, 2024, the judge overseeing the case rejected Chiquita's request to reduce the awards to approximately $50,000 per plaintiff, upholding the jury's original judgment.

The jury concluded that Chiquita knowingly funded the AUC, a recognized terrorist group responsible for severe human rights abuses. From 1997 to 2004, Chiquita allegedly funneled over $1.7 million to the AUC, contributing to violent acts and numerous deaths, including those of innocent civilians in Colombia’s Urabá and Magdalena regions. This trial specifically addressed the deaths of nine AUC victims.

This ruling is notable as it marks the first time an American jury has held a major U.S. corporation accountable for complicity in human rights abuses in a foreign country. The broader litigation against Chiquita encompasses hundreds of additional victims.

Chiquita argued that Colombian law should limit damages to a fraction of the amount awarded by the jury. However, the court found that Colombia does not impose damage caps and, even if it did, such limits would not apply to Chiquita, a U.S.-based company.

The case, led by EarthRights, was initially filed in July 2007 and later combined with other cases against Chiquita in 2008. Since then, it has navigated numerous legal challenges and appeals before reaching this trial. This historic judgment against Chiquita highlights the potential for American corporations to be held liable for human rights violations linked to their overseas operations.