Executives at Chiquita Brands International Inc., the banana label owner that pleaded guilty in 2007 to making payments to Colombian paramilitary groups, must face U.S. lawsuits claiming they played a role in torture, a judge ruled.

Relatives of Colombian victims can pursue claims under the Torture Victim Protection Act…The plaintiffs claim Chiquita paid $1.7 million from 1995 to 2004 to the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, which murdered supporters of anti-government guerilla groups.