Brothers sue La Prensa over land titling revelations

The brothers David and Daniel Ochy Diez and the company Panaplátanos SA, are suing the La Prensa corporation for $7 million.

The claim is for compensation for moral and material damage allegedly caused after the publication of news about land titling in Baru, Chiriquí.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 17 before the Twelfth Civil Court, attacked news items published by La Prensa on June 5 and July 30.
Castillo, Moreno & Associates lawyers for the Diez brothers, said in the civil action that La Prensa and caused personal moral damage to their client, "distributin, nationally and internationally, linking offensive, unclear and murky facts and insinuations."
The brothers are demanding $2 million apiece for moral damages, $500,000 each for actual damages and another $ 2 million for damage to Panaplátanos.
This is the largest claim that pending in the civil courts’ lists.
The stories referred to in the lawsuit, says La Prensa were titled: "Business behind land invasion", "Banana farms, big business with Baru land" and "Land Titling in Baru, Chiriqui, the business behind the conflict" a historical account of land titling in the banana zone of Baru, based on testimony from several sources, including the manager of AST Panaplátanos Baru and farmers in the area.
In addition, for each of the publications La Prensa , “repeatedly asked for the brothers’ version of events, which, however they chose not to provide” said the publication on September 24.
In the meantime there is an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General’s office into the blockade of La Prensa by workers employed by the two brothers, using company trucks and Ministry of Public Works’ signs.