Dole Food settles Nicaragua lawsuits in cases where exposure to pesticide allegedly occurred more than 30 years ago

Dole Food has announced a definitive agreement to settle 38 lawsuits from farm workers who alleged injury from exposure to the pesticide DBCP.

The agreement covers five lawsuits in the United States and 33 in Nicaragua, where the exposure allegedly occurred more than 30 years ago.

Dole did not reveal how much it would pay to settle; the plaintiffs allege a collective $9 billion in damages. Dole will not make any payments until it receives a signed release from each plaintiff, dismissals of cases and judgments, and a determination by the Los Angeles Superior Court that any settlement is fair to all parties.

Original source: Los Angeles Business Journal