US LABOUR contractor Global Horizons boss Mordechai Orian claimed on Monday that the company was no longer in business and had no way to pay $8.7 million (£5.6m) damages to Thai workers exploited while working at Hawaii farms.

Federal judge Leslie Kobayashi ruled on Friday that the California-based contractor must pay, but it is unclear whether the workers will see any cash.

Ms Kobayashi’s ruling awards $150,000 (£96,613) each for 82 claimants, coming from the $3.6m (£2.32m) in settlements and the $8.7m Global Horizons is liable for. She found that the last remaining farm that didn’t settle, Maui Pineapple, was jointly liable for $8.1m (£5.21m) of the $8.7m.

“We will fight this ridiculous decision,” said Mr Orian, calling the amount “insane.” He continued to deny the workers had been mistreated.

“We paid those guys to the last penny,” he claimed.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit in 2011 against Global Horizons and six Hawaiian farms.

It alleged workers were subjected to discrimination, uninhabitable housing, insufficient food, inadequate wages and deportation threats.

Five of the farms settled for a total of $3.6m.

EEOC lawyer Anna Park said the agency was pleased with the verdict but it would be a challenge to get money from Global Horizons.

“The million dollar question is whether they’ll ever see any of it,” added lawyer Clare Hanusz, who represents a large group of the workers.

“I’d be surprised if there really was no money, though. I think it’s very carefully hidden.”