Del. Court Awards Summary Judgment to Dole, Standard Fruit in Pesticide Banana Farm Worker Case

WILMINGTON, Del. –– A Delaware federal court has awarded summary judgment to Dole Food Co. and Standard Fruit Co. in a pesticide case asserted by former banana farm workers, concluding that while the state recognizes cross-jurisdictional tolling, the tolling period for the instant claims expired in 1995.

In the same May 27 ruling, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware dismissed Chiquita Brands International Inc.’s motion to dismiss on pleading grounds, allowing the plaintiffs “a period of time” to supply evidence that they were unaware of the cause of their injuries.

The underlying case involves the claims …