Florida may reimburse citrus growers millions for lost citrus trees

Florida may drop a long-running legal battle and instead agree to pay millions to homeowners across the state whose healthy citrus trees were torn down in a failed attempt to eradicate citrus canker.

House Republicans have agreed to spend $66 million to end lawsuits filed on behalf of homeowners in Broward, Lee and Palm Beach counties. There are also lawsuits that were filed in both Orange and Miami-Dade counties that could eventually push up the cost even more.

Rep. Carlos Trujillo, a House budget chairman, defended making the payments now because lower courts have already ruled against the state in several counties. The House has included the money in its proposed $81.2 billion budget that will be voted on next week.

"We should pay a judgment that has been levied against us," Trujillo said. "Just kicking the can down the road for the next legislature is probably not the best idea."

Class-action lawsuits were filed and courts agreed. Judges ordered homeowners in Broward, Lee, Orange and Palm Beach counties to be fully compensated. Those rulings total about $100 million and a Miami-Dade County case that remains open could double that. Part of the judgments include payments to the law firms that filed the lawsuits.

source: jcfloridan.com

Publication date: 4/10/2017

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