(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Agricultural product” means the natural products from a farm, nursery, grove, orchard, vineyard, garden, or apiary, including livestock, tobacco, and vegetables, and includes aquacultural, horticultural, viticultural, forestry, aquatic, dairy, livestock, poultry, bee, and any farm products.
(b) “Agricultural production system” means land, buildings, or equipment used in the production of any agricultural product as defined in paragraph (a).
(2) Any private, public, or commercial agricultural grower or producer who grows or produces any agricultural product 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 or the agricultural production system of such grower or producer has a cause of action for damages equal to triple the amount of the value of the product or production system or portion thereof 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.
(3) In awarding damages under this section, the courts shall consider the market value of the product or production system prior to damage or destruction, and production, research, testing, replacement, and product development costs directly related to the product or production system that has been damaged or destroyed as part of the value of the product or production system. 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. 1, ch. 2001-182; s. 46, ch. 2001-279; s. 1, ch. 2002-83.