( CNN ) -- Family members of thousands of Colombians who were killed or who disappeared are suing Chiquita Brands International , alleging the produce company is liable because of its payments to paramilitaries . `` We 're holding them accountable , '' said Paul Wolf , a Washington-based attorney who is handling cases for family members of more than 2,000 victims . Chiquita counters their claims and says the lawsuits should be dismissed . The company , which had more than 200 banana farms in Colombia before selling them in 2004 , argues that it was a victim of extortion and has no responsibility for any crimes armed groups committed . A federal judge in Florida is weighing whether the lawsuits , which constitute more than 4,000 claims against Chiquita , will go to trial . In 2007 , Chiquita pleaded guilty and paid a $ 25 million fine for violating U.S. antiterrorism laws when it provided payments to the right-wing paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia , known as the AUC . But family members and representatives of people killed by paramilitaries say the criminal case settlement was n't enough . `` This is a something entirely distinct , the reparations that ( Chiquita ) must make for the victims that suffered the consequences of the armed groups , '' said Ivan Cepeda , a Colombian lawmaker and victims ' advocate . Chiquita spokesman Ed Loyd said the civil lawsuits are `` entirely without merit . '' `` Chiquita gave in to the extortion demands only to protect its employees from being kidnapped and killed , '' he said in a written statement . `` Once the company became aware that these payments could potentially violate U.S. law , the company voluntarily disclosed the facts to the government and cooperated fully with the government 's investigation . '' The lawsuits , however , allege that the company knew it was funding terrorism . A lawsuit Wolf filed on behalf family members of 677 victims in March alleged that Chiquita officials `` were aware that their acts and omissions assisted in the violations of international law '' and `` acted willfully , wantonly and recklessly , with the intent to aid the terrorist acts of the AUC . '' Under the guise of protecting the Colombian public from leftist rebel groups , the AUC committed numerous human rights abuses , according to the U.S. State Department and Human Rights Watch . The abuses included `` the massacre of hundreds of civilians , the forced displacement of entire villages and the kidnapping of political figures to force recognition of AUC demands , '' then-U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said in 2001 , when he designated the group a terrorist organization . In their criminal case , federal prosecutors accused the Cincinnati-based company of paying more than $ 1.7 million to the AUC in two parts of Colombia where the company grew bananas . As part of those proceedings , Chiquita acknowledged that it had also made payments to the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- known as the FARC -- from 1989 to at least 1997 . At least one pending lawsuit -- also filed by Wolf -- seeks damages from Chiquita for hundreds of killings and disappearances related to the FARC . It is unclear when U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra will rule on whether the cases will go to trial , Wolf said . In a motion filed this month asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuits , Chiquita argued that the suits did not show any connection between Chiquita and violence in Colombia `` apart from the one fact that Chiquita has admitted -- that it authorized its Colombian subsidiary to accede to the extortion demands of right-wing and left-wing armed groups in Colombia in order to prevent retaliation against its employees . '' If the lawsuits go to trial , Wolf said it is impossible to estimate the damages that could be awarded , but he said he hopes it will be a large figure that stops similar situations from occurring in the future . `` These kinds of lawsuits raise the price-tag for them ( Chiquita ) . These are not completely powerless people who if they 're killed , it does n't matter , and nobody can do anything about it , '' Wolf said . `` It does matter , because they can sue for billions of dollars . '' CNN 's Catherine E. Shoichet and journalist Fernando Ramos contributed to this report .
It says it was a case of extortion and argues the cases should be dismissed . ` ` We 're holding them accountable , '' an attorney for victims ' families said . A U.S. federal judge is weighing whether the lawsuits will go to trial . Chiquita pleaded guilty in 2007 and paid a $ 25 million fine for paramilitary payments .