Families sue Chiquita over deaths of Americans in Colombia

MIAMI –  The families of six Americans kidnapped and killed in Colombia during the 1990s by the terrorist organization known as FARC are seeking potentially tens of millions of dollars in damages from banana giant Chiquita Brands International because of payments the company made to the group.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in West Palm Beach federal court in lawsuits that accuse Chiquita of violating the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Chiquita has admitted paying FARC — the Spanish acronym for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — about $220,000. But Chiquita insists it did so only to protect its employees and interests from violence.

The families claim Chiquita's financial support of FARC, as a known terrorist group, means it should be held responsible for the Americans' deaths and pay damages.