Chiquita Found Liable For Colombia Deaths, Must Pay $38.3M

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Banana giant Chiquita brands must pay $38.3 million to 16 family members of victims killed by a paramilitary group in Colombia.

On Monday a federal jury in Florida found Chiquita liable for funding the group, marking a rare case of a U.S. company held accountable for human rights abuses abroad.

Chiquita paid about $1.7 million to the United self-defense forces of Colombia from 1997 to 2004.

The company claimed it did so to protect its employees.

The verdict followed a six-week trial. The company, based in florida, plans to challenge the decision.

Chiquita previously pleaded guilty in 2007 to a U.S. criminal charge related to these payments and paid a $25 million fine.