Del Monte
Case Name: ANGEL ENRIQUE VILLEDA ALDANA vs. FRESH DEL MONTE PRODUCE, INC., DEL MONTE FRESH PRODUCE COMPANY, and COMPANIA DE DESARROLLO DE GUATEMALA, S.A. (BANDEGUA)
Plaintiff: Former Guatemalan labor leaders detained and tortured by Del Monte and subsidiaries
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Summary: In July 2001, a suit was filed under the ATCA on behalf of five former Guatemalan trade union leaders seeking damages from Del Monte Corporation for torture and unlawful detention related to their efforts to organize. Fresh Del Monte Produce (Del Monte) is one of the world’s largest producers of fresh fruit products. In July 2005, the 11th Circuit Court found that the Guatemalan workers had properly alleged a torture claim, and remanded the case for trial. The parties are currently in discovery, and it is likely that the case will be brought to trial in early 2008.
Status:
On May 2, 2008 Appellants filed a Reply Brief
On April 15, 2008 Appellees filed their Answer to Appellants Opening Brief
On February 14, 2008 Appellants filed their Opening Brief
11/14/07 Notice of Appeal filed
11th Circuit Court decision finding that Guatemalan trade unionist represented by IRAdvocates against Del Monte had properly alleged claims of torture.
Defendant Bandegua’s Motion to Dismiss Fourth Amended Complaint for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction
Cooperating Attorneys:
Robert A. Sugarman
Marcus Braswell
SUGARMAN & SUSKIND, P.A.
(Before District Court)
— Chris Saeger, "Strengthening Rule of Law Through Aid for Human Rights Litigation in National Courts: A Case Study of Oil Multinational Corporations Complicit in Human Rights Violations in Sudan and Nigeria (December 2007)
— Terry Collingsworth, "Using the Alien Tort Claims Act to Introduce the Rule of Law to the Global Economy (2005)
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