In RE Citrus Canker Litigation

Summary

Class of 58,000+ Broward County homeowners sought inverse condemnation compensation for the government's alleged taking of 133,720 citrus trees pursuant to the Citrus Canker Eradication Program (CCEP). The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services allegedly destroyed the trees even though none of the trees was ever determined to be infected with asian strain citrus canker, a highly contagious bacterial plant disease spread by wind and rain.

According to the defense, citrus disease can infect even trees that look healthy. In addition, homeowners were notified of the proposed eradication, and if they did not appeal the determination to eradicate, then the tree destruction would be effected at no cost to the homeowner.

After the particularly stormy 2004-2005 hurricane season, the eradication program was determined to have failed, and was shut down. The Florida legislature adopted a homeowner compensation program offering each homeowner a $100 "Shade Florida" debit card for their first tree. For the second and additional trees the state of Florida wrote a check to the homeowners for $55 per tree.

The jury found that the total amount of compensation due was $11,531,463, minus the amount actually payed pursuant to the Shade Florida and tree compensation programs.

Outcome

Compensations for all 133,720 trees was $11,531,463.
Defendants were allowed to deduct actual payments already made.

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Citrus Canker Class
Defense: Florida Dept. of Agriculture

Judge: Ronald Rothschild
Jurisdiction: 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Judicial Complex

Case Number: 00-18394(08) CACE
Industry: Agriculture, Government
Practice Area: Constitutional Law, Agriculture Law

Plaintiff

Citrus Canker Class

Represented By:
Gilbert, Robert (Hanzman Gilbert, LLP)
La Vista, Nancy (Lytal, Reiter, Clark, Fountain, & Williams)
Perez, Anne

Defense

Florida Dept. of Agriculture

Represented By:
Parsons, Wesley (Adorno & Yoss)

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

16 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:16:40	Opening Statement	Gilbert, Robert
00:27:12	General Case Activities
00:28:12	Opening Statement	Gilbert, Robert
00:30:40	General Case Activities
00:32:20	Opening Statement	Gilbert, Robert
00:51:27	General Case Activities
00:54:08	General Case Activities
00:55:28	Opening Statement	Gilbert, Robert
01:00:30	General Case Activities
01:04:23	Opening Statement	Parsons, Wesley
01:16:04	General Case Activities
01:20:20	Opening Statement	Parsons, Wesley
01:22:52	General Case Activities
01:26:25	Opening Statement	Parsons, Wesley
01:38:42	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Riherd, Ms. Connie	In Person
00:52:20	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Riherd, Ms. Connie	In Person
01:01:12	Witness Re-Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Riherd, Ms. Connie	In Person
01:03:34	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Riherd, Ms. Connie	In Person
01:04:49	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:01	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Bogurff, Toby	In Person
00:12:55	General Case Activities
00:18:07	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Bogurff, Toby	In Person
00:27:15	General Case Activities
00:28:48	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Bogurff, Toby	In Person
00:35:30	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Bogurff, Toby	In Person
00:59:45	General Case Activities
01:03:25	General Case Activities		Bogurff, Toby	In Person
01:04:26	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Bogurff, Toby	In Person
01:05:06	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:17	General Case Activities
00:01:54	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
03:41:50	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
03:53:25	General Case Activities
03:56:38	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
04:11:24	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:04:32	General Case Activities
00:06:15	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:18:52	General Case Activities
00:22:35	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:35:26	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:45:32	General Case Activities
00:50:01	General Case Activities		Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:10:50	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:09	General Case Activities
00:03:05	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Pearce, Robert	In Person
00:21:08	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Pearce, Robert	In Person
00:35:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Pearce, Robert	In Person
00:39:00	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Pearce, Robert	In Person
00:44:28	General Case Activities
00:45:34	General Case Activities		Pearce, Robert	In Person
00:49:28	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:21	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
00:24:03	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
00:33:52	General Case Activities
00:35:20	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
00:37:40	General Case Activities
00:39:35	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
00:41:23	Witness Re-Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
00:47:00	General Case Activities
00:48:05	General Case Activities		Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
00:50:18	General Case Activities		Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:49	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
00:07:10	General Case Activities
00:11:59	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Meyer, Mr. Craig	In Person
01:11:11	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:40	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Harris, John A.	In Person
00:03:55	General Case Activities
00:06:15	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Harris, John A.	In Person
01:05:40	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Harris, John A.	In Person
01:07:51	General Case Activities
01:10:05	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Harris, John A.	In Person
01:14:43	General Case Activities
01:19:10	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Harris, John A.	In Person
01:33:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Harris, John A.	In Person
01:36:20	General Case Activities
01:37:02	General Case Activities		Harris, John A.	In Person
01:40:49	General Case Activities		Harris, John A.	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Abrams, Claudette	In Person
00:15:13	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Abrams, Claudette	In Person
00:33:34	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Abrams, Claudette	In Person
00:34:03	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Abrams, Claudette	In Person
00:35:25	General Case Activities
00:35:47	General Case Activities		Abrams, Claudette	In Person

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:14	General Case Activities
00:01:44	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:43:48	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:54:18	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:07:35	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:09:15	General Case Activities
01:10:00	General Case Activities		Gaskalla, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:20:14	General Case Activities

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	Witness Direct Examination	Perez, Anne	Garcia, Bev	In Person
00:12:08	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Garcia, Bev	In Person
00:23:07	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Perez, Anne	Garcia, Bev	In Person
00:24:40	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Garcia, Bev	In Person
00:25:30	General Case Activities
00:27:06	General Case Activities		Garcia, Bev	In Person

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:04	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Wilson, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:38:00	General Case Activities
00:39:37	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Wilson, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:45:55	General Case Activities
00:52:00	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Wilson, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:53:48	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Wilson, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:18:08	Witness Re-Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Wilson, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:22:52	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Wilson, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:25:08	General Case Activities
01:25:52	General Case Activities		Wilson, Mr. Richard	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Granger, Barbra	In Person
00:18:19	General Case Activities
00:19:50	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Granger, Barbra	In Person
00:31:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Granger, Barbra	In Person
00:32:33	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Granger, Barbra	In Person
00:33:38	General Case Activities		Granger, Barbra	In Person

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:11	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
00:33:52	General Case Activities
00:38:05	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
01:15:00	Break
01:15:29	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
02:38:54	General Case Activities
02:40:05	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
02:50:12	Break
02:50:30	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
02:55:20	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
03:46:40	General Case Activities

PM Session

Not in Session

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Hoyer, Eric	In Person

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:01:30	Witness Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Farley, Timothy	In Person
00:12:33	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Farley, Timothy	In Person
00:33:24	Witness Re-Direct Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Farley, Timothy	In Person
00:37:30	General Case Activities
00:38:03	General Case Activities		Farley, Timothy	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
00:20:24	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
00:51:08	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Hoyer, Eric	In Person
00:58:14	General Case Activities
00:59:19	General Case Activities		Hoyer, Eric	In Person

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:04	General Case Activities
00:01:09	General Case Activities	Parsons, Wesley	Talment, Michelle	In Person
00:16:35	Witness Cross Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Talment, Michelle	In Person
00:26:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Talment, Michelle	In Person
00:26:38	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Talment, Michelle	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Schuert, Tim	In Person
00:32:20	General Case Activities
00:34:00	Witness Cross Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Schuert, Tim	In Person
01:35:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Schuert, Tim	In Person
01:57:12	Witness Re-Cross Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Schuert, Tim	In Person
02:12:54	General Case Activities
02:13:27	General Case Activities		Schuert, Tim	In Person
02:57:04	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Sun, Dr. Xiaoan Ph.D.	In Person
00:06:22	General Case Activities
00:08:25	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Sun, Dr. Xiaoan Ph.D.	In Person
00:24:30	General Case Activities
00:27:00	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Sun, Dr. Xiaoan Ph.D.	In Person
00:28:55	Witness Cross Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Sun, Dr. Xiaoan Ph.D.	In Person
00:44:26	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Sun, Dr. Xiaoan Ph.D.	In Person
00:46:47	Witness Re-Cross Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Sun, Dr. Xiaoan Ph.D.	In Person
00:51:08	General Case Activities
00:51:33	General Case Activities		Sun, Dr. Xiaoan Ph.D.	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Black, Greg	In Person
00:05:26	Witness Cross Examination	La Vista, Nancy	Black, Greg	In Person
00:09:40	General Case Activities

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Martinez, Debra	In Person
00:03:00	General Case Activities
00:11:54	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Martinez, Debra	In Person
00:12:50	Witness Cross Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Martinez, Debra	In Person
00:14:24	General Case Activities

PM Session

In Session - No Content Available

0 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:08	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Garcia, A.	Transcript Reading

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:45	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Bogurff, Mr. Robert	Transcript Reading

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:08	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Berwick, Mr. Steven CPA/CVA	In Person
00:08:20	Voir Dire (Jury Selection)	Gilbert, Robert	Berwick, Mr. Steven CPA/CVA	In Person
00:18:50	General Case Activities
00:19:00	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Berwick, Mr. Steven CPA/CVA	In Person
00:45:20	Witness Cross Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Berwick, Mr. Steven CPA/CVA	In Person
01:43:59	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Berwick, Mr. Steven CPA/CVA	In Person
01:57:17	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Berwick, Mr. Steven CPA/CVA	In Person
01:59:37	General Case Activities		Berwick, Mr. Steven CPA/CVA	In Person
02:06:18	End of Session

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:06	General Case Activities
00:03:57	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Timmer, Dr. LaVergne	Video Recording
00:26:35	Witness Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Timmer, Dr. LaVergne	Video Recording
00:47:04	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Timmer, Dr. LaVergne	Video Recording
00:58:12	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Timmer, Dr. LaVergne	In Person
01:08:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Timmer, Dr. LaVergne	Video Recording
02:25:05	Break
02:25:20	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Timmer, Dr. LaVergne	Video Recording

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Meyer, Mr. Craig	Transcript Reading

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

1 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gilbert, Robert	Pearce, Robert	In Person

PM Session

Closings

2 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

3 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

1 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Other

1 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

MAY

PM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

MAY

In RE Citrus Canker Litigation

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:20	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Schuert, Tim	In Person

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:11	General Case Activities
00:02:17	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Schuert, Tim	In Person
01:14:22	General Case Activities
01:17:05	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Schuert, Tim	In Person
01:23:40	General Case Activities
01:27:16	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Schuert, Tim	In Person
01:46:54	General Case Activities
01:50:33	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Schuert, Tim	In Person
02:03:14	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:05	General Case Activities
00:04:13	Witness Direct Examination	Parsons, Wesley	Filho, Dr. Armando PhD	Transcript Reading
00:16:32	Witness Direct Examination		Filho, Dr. Armando PhD	Transcript Reading
01:02:30	General Case Activities

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:42	Closing Statement	Gilbert, Robert

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:10:50	General Case Activities

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:34	Reading of the Verdict
		00:03:06	General Case Activities
		00:04:00	General Case Activities