It's likely that this case will be appealed, but it's a good day for justice. The court agreed to an $8.6 billion settlement as opposed to the $113 billion that Ecuador was requesting, but this should still go a long way towards repairing the damage left behind decades ago. Chevron is now relying on friendly US courts to help them avoid any responsibility. They will no doubt find plenty of friendly faces in Congress as well as we witnessed during the BP disaster. The Guardian:
Pablo Fajardo, the plaintiffs' lawyer, told Associated Press the judgment at the provincial court of justice of Sucumbíos in Lago Agrio was "a great step that we have made towards the crystallisation of justice", but the fine was too small and he may appeal.
The epic and bitterly fought lawsuit over the "Amazon Chernobyl" has been going on for 18 years. It was brought on behalf of 30,000 people whose health and environment were allegedly damaged by chemical-laden waste water dumped by Texaco's operations from 1972 to 1990. Chevron bought Texaco in 2001.
The lawsuit alleges that Chevron should be held responsible for $27bn in damages from illness, deaths and economic loss suffered by the Amazon residents. The case was the subject of 2009's award-winning documentary Crude and has attracted celebrity supporters including Sting, Trudie Styler and Daryl Hannah.
