Opinion ID: 77033
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: injuries and harm suffered by the plaintiffs

Text: 74 28. On or before October 13, 1999, Defendants Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh and Bandegua hired or otherwise created an agency relationship with an armed and organized security force (hereinafter referred to as the security force) to use violence to intimidate the SITRABI leadership in order to affect the outcome of the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations and the associated labor disputes concerning the workforce of the Bobos plantation. This security force was given specific direction by employees or agents of Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh and/or Bandegua. 75 29. The security force was heavily armed and was permitted to operate openly due to the provisions and practices pursuant to the law of Guatemala under which the Ministry of Interior regulates the creation and use of private, armed security forces. Moreover, public officials, at the urging of Defendants and/or their agents, intentionally failed to take action in order to permit the violence to occur. Further, various public officials were part of the security force. 76 30. On the afternoon of October 13, 1999, the security force met with employees and/or agents of Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh and/or Bandegua to plan violent action against the Plaintiffs and other SITRABI leaders. This meeting occurred at a restaurant in the Municipality of Morales Izabal. Among the Del Monte employees present was the Director of Operations, Teodoro Jiménez Falla, who, on information and belief, is still employed by Del Monte and working in Brazil after fleeing Guatemala to avoid criminal prosecution for his wrongful acts described herein. Also present and actively participating in planning the violence was Carlos Enrique Hernandez, who was head of security for Del Monte's operations in Guatemala. As is described below, Carlos Enrique Hernandez was present during the violent acts that followed the planning session described herein, and was relaying information as it occurred to allow his superiors at Del Monte to coordinate the steps of the plan to use violence to force the resignation of the SITRABI leaders from the union and from the company. On information and belief, the Bandegua General Manager, Jorge Arturo Osborne Escalante, was also present at this meeting, or it occurred at his direction and with his coordination. 77 31. Based on information and belief, the security force was represented at the meeting by its leaders, Obdulio Mendoza Matta, Edvin Mendoza Mata, Carlos Castro Garcies, and Carlos Régil Beker. At least two of these leaders, Obdulio Mendoza Matta and Carlos Castro Garcies, were contractors for Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh and/or Bandegua, and performed regular services in Guatemala as agents for the banana plantations owned by the Defendants. 78 32. The result of the meeting was a specific plan and agreement between the security force and Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh and/or Bandegua pursuant to which the security force would capture, kidnap and terrorize the Plaintiffs in order to break the SITRABI union, eliminate its experienced leadership, and gain a significant advantage in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations and the associated labor disputes concerning the workforce of the Bobos plantation. This plan was in furtherance of the business activities and interests of Defendants Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh, and/or Bandegua, and constituted an express conspiracy to commit violent acts against the Plaintiffs. 79 33. On October 13, 1999, at 5:45 p.m. the security force, which was a gang of over 200 heavily armed men, came to the SITRABI headquarters in the Municipality of Morales, Izabal to carry out and implement the conspiracy, described in more detail below, on behalf of, and under the direction and control of, Defendants Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh, and/or Bandegua. 80 34. Plaintiffs Jorge Agustin Palma Romero and Oscar Leonel Guerra Evans were in the SITRABI office when the security force arrived. They were both detained unlawfully at gunpoint by the security force, and they were tortured with physical violence and the threat of death. The security force kept multiple weapons pointed at them, frequently jabbing them with the weapons causing great physical pain and mental anguish. The aggressors threatened repeatedly that the Plaintiffs would be killed because of their activities on behalf of SITRABI. 81 35. Plaintiff Oscar Leonel Guerra Evans was eventually taken to a room within the SITRABI office and left with a subgroup of the security force. He was constantly tortured with guns and threats of death while he was detained against his will. 82 36. Plaintiff Jorge Agustin Palma Romero was forcibly detained and then removed from the SITRABI office at gunpoint by several leaders of the security force, including, but not limited to, Obdulio Mendoza Matta, Edvin Mendoza Mata, Carlos Castro Garcies, and Carlos Régil Beker. He was kidnapped by the security force in a car that belonged to SITRABI. He was ordered at gunpoint to show the security force where another of the Plaintiffs, and a leader of SITRABI, Plaintiff Marel Martinez, lived. During the drive, a leader of the security force, Obdulio Mendoza Matta, said to Plaintiff Jorge Agustin Palma Romero, while holding a gun to his head, that they were going to kill him and his body would be rotten by the time the human rights people heard that he is dead. 83 37. The security force arrived at the home of Plaintiff Marel Martinez, and in front of his wife and children, abducted him at gunpoint. They shoved him with gun barrels, smashed his cell phone, and told him that they were going to kill him, all while his family observed helplessly. 84 38. The security force took Plaintiff Marel Martinez and Plaintiff Jorge Agustin Palma Romero back to the SITRABI office, all the while again torturing them with guns and threats that they were going to be killed in a brutal and grotesque way. When they arrived back at the SITRABI office, the security force took them inside and, at gunpoint, forced Plaintiff Marel Martinez to telephone Plaintiff Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana, another SITRABI leader, and tell him he had to come at once to the SITRABI office to sort out a problem with Bandegua and the Bobos Chamber of Commerce. Marel Martinez had a gun to his head the entire time he made the call, and he was told that if he warned or otherwise failed to deliver the message to Plaintiff Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana, he would be killed instantly. The security force also forced Marel Martinez to call other SITRABI leaders and summon them to the office. While waiting for the other leaders to arrive, Plaintiffs Jorge Agustin Palma Romero, Oscar Leonel Guerra Evans, and Marel Martinez were subjected to ongoing torture as the security force members pointed guns at them and described how they were going to be killed. 85 39. At some point while the security force was waiting for Plaintiff Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana to arrive, Plaintiff Lyionhel McIntosch Rodriguez, another SITRABI leader, arrived at the SITRABI office. He was ordered at gunpoint by a leader of the security force, Obdulio Mendoza Matta, to get out of his car and go into the SITRABI office. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana arrived at the office and was likewise taken inside the SITRABI office at gunpoint. 86 40. Plaintiff Rigoberto Hernandez was at home when he received the call from Marel Martinez. He responded immediately and proceeded to the SITRABI offices. When Plaintiff Hernandez arrived at the union offices, he smiled upon seeing his colleague, Marel Martinez. Obdulio Mendoza Matta then stepped forward and put a gun to Plaintiff Hernandez's head, threatening I'll make you smile. 87 41. Plaintiff Gumerzindo Martinez was at home when he received a call from Marel Martinez; shortly thereafter, he boarded a bus heading in the direction of the SITRABI offices. 88 42. The bus, which contained about thirty five plantation workers and fifteen SITRABI leaders, was stopped in front of the SITRABI offices. Obdulio Mendoza Matta boarded the bus and explained to the passengers that he did not have a dispute with the workers but only the SITRABI leadership. SITRABI leaders, including Gumerzindo Martinez, were removed from the bus and led into the SITRABI offices, where they were forcibly held with the other leaders. 89 43. At this time, Obdulio Mendoza Matta jabbed a gun into Plaintiff Gumerzindo Martinez and told him that he was going to die. Obdulio Mendoza Matta then threatened Gumerzindo Martinez, exclaiming Now you will find out who we really are. You won't mess with Bandegua after we cut your balls off and hang you! 90 44. Once the seven SITRABI leaders, the Plaintiffs herein, were present, the security force took them, and other SITRABI members who were present in the office, to the auditorium of the union office. A leader of the security force, Carlos Castro Garcias, who claimed to be the President of the Chamber of Commerce for the Municipality of Morales, Izabal, told the Plaintiffs that they were responsible for the declining business in the area. Further, he said that if Del Monte abandons the Bobos plantation and the plantations in the rest of the country, it would be their fault. He continued that the security force would not allow that to happen. At this point, another leader of the security force, Obdulio Mendoza Matta, interrupted to say that there had been enough talk and it was time to kill the SITRABI leaders, including the seven Plaintiffs herein. 91 45. Obdulio Mendoza Matta then ordered his men to get the AK-47s. He then used a Polaroid camera and took pictures of the seven Plaintiffs, stating that he wanted a clear photo of the faces before he killed them all. The five Plaintiffs were shoved and jabbed with guns while the members of the security forces were discussing what to do next. The Plaintiffs all believed reasonably that they were going to be killed by the out of control mob. Another member of the security force, Mario Benildo Alvarez, grabbed Plaintiff Jorge Agustin Palma Romero by the hair and shouted, Let's start with this one. Let's burn him alive. He's big and tall, let's kill Jorge. Obdulio Mendoza Matta then came from behind and hit Mr. Romero in the back, and said, Do you want to see who wants to burn you alive you son of a bitch? 92 46. The security force had become an unruly mob and the Plaintiffs were pushed and shoved with guns as the aggressors competed to shout what should be done to kill them. All of the Plaintiffs sustained injuries and suffered severe trauma as they waited to be brutally killed by the mob. 93 47. At some point in the confusion, the candidate for Mayor of Morales District, Manuel Sosa Castaneda, who is now the current Mayor of Morales Municipality, arrived. He was with the security force and joined in the mob action. Thereafter, the security force reached a consensus that the two main leaders of SITRABI, Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana and Marel Martinez, would be taken to a radio station owned by a leader of the security force, Carlos Castro Garcias, where they would be forced to denounce the union. Accompanied by Carlos Castro Garcias, Israel Vargas, who was Mayor of Morales District at the time of the events herein, and several other armed aggressors, Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana and Marel Martinez were taken by force, at gunpoint, and against their wills, to the radio station. The remaining Plaintiffs were guarded by three gunmen who told them that if anyone moved, they would be killed. 94 48. On the way to the radio station, with guns to their heads and bodies, Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana and Marel Martinez were further tortured and threatened with death. Carlos Castro Garcias took out a video camera and filmed much of the scene and taunted them, saying they were not celebrities and would be giving their last messages. 95 49. At the radio station, Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana and Marel Martinez were forced at gunpoint to make an announcement over the radio that the labor dispute with Del Monte was over, the workers should return to work, the workers who had been discharged from Bobos should get the money owed them and go elsewhere for work, and that the leaders of SITRABI would resign their posts. 96 50. When the announcement was completed, Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana and Marel Martinez were taken back at gunpoint to the SITRABI office. The seven Plaintiffs herein, among others, were then gathered in an office and were further tortured at gunpoint with threats of brutal death. 97 51. A lawyer from the area, Jorge Salguero, was brought in, and another man, Rufino Sosa, joined to type the lawyer's dictation. Another lawyer, who was clearly with the security force, was telling the other lawyer, Salgucro, what to do. Two video cameras controlled by the security force were recording the events. A fax arrived in the office. On information and belief, the fax was sent by officials of Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh, and/or Bandegua. It was a model resignation and release form. The lawyers directed the typist who prepared a resignation and release letter for the seven Plaintiffs and the four additional SITRABI leaders. They were all forced, at gunpoint, to sign the resignation letters. During all of these events, the Chief of Security for Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh, and/or Bandegua, Carlos Enrique Hernandez Diaz, was present and was communicating by walkie talkie to persons believed to be management staff of Del Monte. 98 52. Once the letters were signed, then again unruly calls from the mob of the security force were made to kill the Plaintiffs. Manuel Sosa Castaneda, a leader of the security force and now the Mayor of Morales Municipality, made a speech mocking the Plaintiffs and thanking them for their public service of resigning from Del Monte. He had been one of the armed aggressors throughout the events of the evening. 99 53. Plaintiffs Marel Martinez and Jorge Agustin Palma Romero made statements to the mob to the effect that you have what you wanted, now please let us go. 100 54. Obdulio Mendoza Matta, a leader of the security force, told the Plaintiffs that they had better leave the area or he would find them and kill them. He further stated that even if they went to Mexico, he would find them. He pounded Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana and Jorge Agustin Palma Romero in the chest as he was saying this. 101 55. Plaintiffs were released from their detention around 2 a.m. on October 14, 1999. As they walked outside, they all were able to see the National Police office, which was no more than 100 meters from the SITRABI office. It was an absolute certainty that the National Police were aware of all of the events of the night, and yet they did nothing to intervene to protect the SITRABI leaders. Positive that they would not be safe if they remained in the area, the Plaintiffs, except Gumerzindo Martinez, gathered their families and fled to Guatemala City where they sought police protection. 102 56. Plaintiff Gumerzindo Martinez, who was forced to remain in the area of the Bobos plantation due to a motorcycle accident, ran into Obdulio Mendoza Matta at a gas station four days later. Obdulio Mendoza Matta again told Plaintiff Gumerzindo Martinez that he was to leave the country immediately or face certain death. He thereafter fled the area and hid in the countryside until he managed to travel to Guatemala City. 103 57. At the conclusion of the events of the evening of October 13 and the early morning of October 14, 1999, Obdulio Mendoza Matta had custody of the resignation letters of the five Plaintiffs. The next day, in response to an inquiry from the Ministry of Labor, the Bandegua General Manager, Jorge Arturo Osborne Escalante, asserted that he had the voluntary resignations of the SITRABI leaders in his possession. Mr. Escalante made this statement at a meeting with the Ministry of Labor and at a separate meeting with the Public Ministry. The Plaintiffs were present in the meeting with the Ministry of Labor. 104 58. Within weeks of the events of October 13 and 14, two of the main leaders of the security force, Obdulio Mendoza Matta and Carlos Castro Garcias, who had been contractors and agents for Del Monte, Inc., Del Monte Fresh, and/or Bandegua, were rewarded by Del Monte, Inc. for their leadership roles in the violence described herein with favorable long term leases and became the administrators for banana plantations in Guatemala that Del Monte, Inc. had decided not to operate directly any longer. 105 59. Shortly after the events described herein, senior management for Del Monte, in response to demands made by the IUF, promised to remove Obdulio Mendoza Matta and Carlos Castro Garcias, and others who had been involved in the violence of October 13 and 14, from management positions at any Del Monte-controlled plantation in Guatemala. Further, acknowledging the ongoing danger to their lives and the lives of their families, Del Monte promised to assist the five Plaintiffs to get out of Guatemala. Ultimately, Del Monte provided $50,000 to the IUF dedicated to covering the costs of relocating Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana, Jorge Agustin Palma Romero, Oscar Leonel Guerra Evans, Lyionhel McIntosch Rodriguez and Marel Martinez and their families. These funds were for travel costs only, and these five Plaintiffs in no way indicated that these funds applied to settle any claims that could be brought against Del Monte for its acknowledged direct role in the events of October 13 and 14, 1999. Plaintiffs Gumerzindo Martinez and Rigoberto Hernandez received no such funds. 106 60. In March 2001, Plaintiffs Angel Enrique Villeda Aldana, Jorge Agustin Palma Romero, Oscar Leonel Guerra Evans, Lyionhel McIntosch Rodriguez and Marel Martinez, after being forced to live in hiding and in constant fear of their lives, and the lives of their family members, for 17 months, were relocated to the United States with the direct intervention of the U.S. embassy in Guatemala. Plaintiffs Gumerzindo Martinez and Rigoberto Hernandez were not able to flee Guatemala until almost a year later, in early 2002.