Chiquita loses suit to stop release of Colombia records [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Chiquita loses suit to stop release of Colombia records
By Andrew Zajac
Bloomberg News
Posted: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013

Chiquita Brands International Inc.’s bid to stop the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from releasing documents on payments to Colombian terrorist groups was thrown out of court.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington rejected the company’s argument that the damage it would suffer from disclosure of the records, in a case in Florida connected to the Colombian payments, should bar their release to a public- interest group under the Freedom of Information Act.

“Chiquita’s speculation about potential publicity and its effect on a future jury in the Florida litigation does not satisfy the level of certainty required” to exempt the records from the law, Leon said in his ruling Wednesday. “There can be no doubt that the SEC rationally determined from the record that disclosure of the Chiquita payment documents would not seriously interfere with the fairness of the Florida litigation,” Leon wrote.

Charlotte-based Chiquita contended the documents might compromise the impartiality of the Florida court proceedings. The company is fighting multiple suits brought by families claiming relatives were kidnapped and murdered after Chiquita made payments to the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, and other terrorist groups. Complaints from around the U.S are consolidated in a court in Fort Lauderdale.

More:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/11/21/4485738/chiquita-loses-suit-to-stop-release.html#.Uo5ixurnZNU#storylink=cpy