Four months ago Chiquita admitted it paid terrorist groups $1.7 million in protection money over six years to protect its banana-growing operation in dangerous areas of Columbia. And now, EarthRights International, a human rights group, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of at least six alleged victims seeking unspecified monetary damages for the families. An EarthRights spokesman said that if the case is granted class-action status, several thousand relatives could be represented. Chiquita Company spokesman Michael Mitchell said; "Suits of this nature are without merit, and we'll certainly defend ourselves vigorously." However, in one case allegations of indirect connections were enough to establish liability. In Boim v. Quranic Literacy Institute, 340 F.Supp.2d 885 (N.D.Ill.,2004) the court held Holy Land Foundation liable for "aiding and abetting" Hamas, based on Treasury's allegations in the 2001 designation and the criminal indictment, even though there was no finding of direct ties to Hamas. For more background, see the OMB Watch report Muslim Charities and the War on Terror. And for more information on the Chiquita lawsuit, see the AP story here.