Personal Injury Law

Judge Rules in Favor of Dole - Several Related Cases May Be at Risk

By Kirk Bernard, Esq.

A Los Angeles judge has dismissed two lawsuits that were filed against US Food Giant Dole by Nicaraguan banana plantation workers, according to a recent report on abcnews online. The lawsuits alleged that Dole was guilty of exposing plantation workers to harmful pesticides. Litigation was fueled by previous lawsuits that opponents of the Food Company had won in Nicaragua.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Victoria Chaney dismissed the lawsuits on the grounds of fraud and attempted extortion. She made her ruling after hearing testimony that detailed a scheme to recruit men who would claim they were rendered sterile by exposure to a pesticide in the 1970s.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge sighted a litany of judgments coming from Nicaragua, from crooked judges who were ?devouring bribes?. She was quoted as saying:

"What has occurred here is not just a fraud on the court, it is blatant extortion on the defendant?the record is so outrageous and profound."

Full post as published by Seattle Injury Blog on July 13, 2009 (boomark / email).