The Florida Senate

604.60  Damage or destruction of agricultural crops; civil action.--Any private, public, or commercial agricultural grower or producer who grows or produces any agricultural product, as defined in s. 468.382(7), for personal, research, or commercial purposes or for testing or research purposes in a product development program conducted in conjunction or coordination with a private research facility, a university, or any federal, state, or local government agency who suffers damages as a result of another person's willful and knowing damage or destruction of any such agricultural product has a cause of action for damages equal to double the amount of the value of the product damaged or destroyed, including the cost of any experimental product replication, and for any other relief a court of competent jurisdiction deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, compensatory and punitive damages. In awarding damages under this section, the courts shall consider the market value of the product prior to damage or destruction, and production, research, testing, replacement, and product development costs directly related to the product that has been damaged or destroyed as part of the value of the product. The prevailing party in any action brought pursuant to this section is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.

History.--s. 4, ch. 2001-182; s. 46, ch. 2001-279.