Florida pays $52 million to homeowners after lawsuit

WELLINGTON, Fla. (CBS12) — Fifteen years ago the Department of Agriculture told work crews all over Palm Beach and Broward County to cut down citrus trees to stop the spread of citrus canker.

Now homeowners are finally being reimbursed.

The state will dole out more than $52 million to homeowners after they won a class-action suit against the Department of Agriculture.

Between 2000-2006 more than 85,000 households in Broward and Palm Beach Counties had their healthy citrus trees cut down and destroyed by the Department of Agriculture.

Citrus canker is a disease affecting leaves and stems of citrus trees. However, the plan was scrapped after officials determined it was a loss because citrus canker is spread by wind and rain.

The law firm representing the homeowners says the checks will be distributed in October.

Each homeowner can expect to get close to $600.