Hawaii Court Affirms Dismissal of Pesticide Case Brought by Banana Crop Workers, Says Claims Weren’t Timely

HONOLULU –– A Hawaiian appellate court has affirmed the dismissal of a pesticide exposure case brought by a group of banana crop workers, agreeing with the trial court’s assessment that the claims are time-barred.

In the March 7 opinion, the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled that the statute of limitations was not tolled by a separate pending class action in which the plaintiffs were also involved since class certification in that case was denied nearly 20 years ago.

The six plaintiffs in the underlying case –– citizens of Costa Rica, Ecuador or Guatemala –– contend that they were wrongfully …