NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- Chiquita Brands International faces a $ 7.86 billion lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of nearly 400 Colombian families who say the company should be held responsible for the `` torture and murder '' of their loved ones . With a map of alleged victims , Jonathan Reiter makes his case Wednesday at a New York news conference . Attorney Jonathan Reiter said his clients are seeking `` damages for terrorism , war crimes ... and wrongful death . '' The plaintiffs are asking for $ 10 million in compensatory damages and $ 10 million in punitive damages for each of the 393 victims named in the suit . Earlier this year , Chiquita , as part of a plea agreement , admitted that what it called protection payments had been given to Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia , or AUC . AUC was named a terrorist organization by the United States in 2002 , making it a crime to give them money . The lawsuit alleges Chiquita 's interaction with the paramilitary group went further than the payments -- it accuses the company of facilitating shipments of arms to the group . `` They conspired with the AUC , aided and abetted them in a far-reaching conspiracy and plan to control every aspect of banana growing , distribution and sale , '' Reiter said . The attorney said one couple refused to sell their banana farm `` for pennies '' and were killed by AUC in 2001 , and other murder victims had been directed to `` sell their bananas only to Chiquita . '' The families filing the suit will remain anonymous because of fear of reprisals in their home country , he said . `` The principle upon which this lawsuit is brought is that when you put money into the hands of terrorists , when you put guns into the hands of terrorists , then you are legally responsible for the atrocities , the murders and the tortures that those terrorists commit , '' Reiter said . Responding to the allegations Wednesday afternoon , the company said , `` Chiquita Brands International categorically denies the allegations made by these attorneys . We reiterate that Chiquita and its employees were victims and that the actions taken by the company were always motivated to protect the lives of our employees and their families . '' Chiquita 's director of communications , Michael Mitchell , went on to say , `` Our company had been forced to make protection payments to safeguard our workforce . It is absolutely untrue for anyone to suggest that these payments were made for any other purpose . '' Mitchell said the company will fight the allegations . `` Chiquita has already been the victim of extortion in Colombia . We will not allow ourselves to become extortion victims in the United States . '' In the March plea agreement , Chiquita Brands International agreed to pay a $ 25 million fine for the payments made by the company 's former banana-producing subsidiary in Colombia . During a government investigation , the company admitted to making payments to AUC even after outside counsel told the company those payments were illegal and should stop immediately . E-mail to a friend .
Company : attorneys allege terrorism , war crimes , wrongful death , and $ 7.86 billion . Plaintiffs want $ 20 million in damages for each of 393 victims named in suit . Chiquita admits paying a group that the U.S. labeled a terrorist organization . Company ` ` categorically denies '' attorneys ' claims , says it will fight them .