Jury Says Dole Acted Maliciously

0

A Superior Court jury ruled Wednesday that the Dole Fresh Fruit Co. acted maliciously in harming five of six workers who say they were left sterile by a pesticide used on a Nicaraguan banana plantation in the 1970s, Ventura County Star reports.


The ruling sets the stage for Westlake Village-based Dole to pay punitive damages on top of $3.3 million in actual damages that the jury awarded the six workers Monday. The seven-man, five-woman jury was to return to court next week to determine the amount of punitive damages.


The workers’ lawsuit accused Dole and Standard Fruit Co., now part of Dole, of negligence and fraudulent concealment while using the pesticide DBCP in the 1970s. The chemical was used to kill microscopic worms on the roots of banana plants.


“We are quite pleased on behalf of our clients that Dole has seen their day in court and has finally been held accountable for what they did,” the workers’ attorney, Duane Miller, said after Wednesday’s verdict.


Dole attorney Rick Mc-Knight declined comment.



Read the full Ventura County Star story

.

No posts to display