Opinion ID: 3133690
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Complaint and First Amended Complaint

Text: In this case, Gerardo Dennis Patrickson, Rodolfo Bermudez Arias, Benigno Torres Hernandez, Fernando Jimenez Arias, Melgar Olimpio Moreno, Leandro Santos, Herman Romero Aguilar, Elias Espinoza Merelo, Celestino Hooker Era, Alirio Manuel Mendez, and Carlos Humberto Rivera,2 individually and on behalf of others similarly situated (“Plaintiffs”), filed their Complaint (and First Amended Complaint) against Dole Food Company, Inc.; Dole Fresh Fruit Company; Dole Fresh Fruit International, Limited; Dole Fresh Fruit International, Inc.; Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii; Amvac Chemical Corporation; Shell Oil Company; Dow Chemical Company; Occidental Chemical Corporation; Standard Fruit Company; Standard Fruit and Steamship Company; Standard Fruit Company de Costa Rica, S.A.; Standard Fruit Company de Honduras, S.A.; Chiquita Brands, Inc.; Chiquita Brands International, Inc.; Maritrop Trading Corporation; Del 2 On certiorari, only six named Plaintiffs remain in this action (Gerardo Dennis Patrickson, Benigno Torres Hernandez, Fernando Jimenez Arias, Elias Espinoza Merelo, Alirio Manual Mendez, and Carlos Humberto Rivera). Alirio Manual Mendez and Carlos Humberto Rivera stipulated to partially dismiss, without prejudice, all claims against Defendants Dole Food Company, Inc.; Dole Fresh Fruit Company; Standard Fruit Company; and Standard Fruit and Steamship Company. Roldolfo Bermudez Arias, Celestino Hooker Era, Herman Romero Aguilar, Leandro Santos, and Melgar Olimpio Moreno all stipulated to partially dismiss, without prejudice, all claims against all defendants. 10  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAII REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  Monte Fresh Produce, N.A.; Del Monte Fresh Produce Company; and Doe Defendants.3 The Complaint alleged that the Plaintiffs were banana plantation workers from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Panama, who were exposed to DBCP, made by or used by the Defendants, and such exposure caused severe injuries to the Plaintiffs’ reproductive systems. The Plaintiffs alleged as causes of action the following: negligence, conspiracy, strict liability, intentional tort, and breach of implied warranty. They prayed for compensatory and punitive damages. The circuit court denied the Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification and appointment of class representative on June 13, 2008. Plaintiffs did not appeal the denial of class certification. Therefore, this case concerns only the named Plaintiffs.