CIEL: Landmark Judgment in Ecuadorian Suit Against Chevron

 

February 15, 2011

On February 15, 2011, CIEL talked with KPCC-FM, the Los Angeles affiliate and Southern California Public Radio flagship station, about the unprecedented verdict against the Chevron Corporation for causing environmental destruction and violating human rights in Ecuador.  In one of the largest judgments ever handed down in an environmental case, a judge in Ecuador ordered Chevron to pay almost $9 billion to clean-up oil pollution and cover health care costs for communities affected by the damage, with a further $8.6 billion in punitive damages if the company did not issue an apology to the plaintiffs within 15 days.  The decision marked the first time a U.S. company faced judgment in a foreign court over environmental crimes. 

In an interview with Southern California Public Radio, CIEL Attorney Marcos Orellana discussed the significance of the case and the enforceability of the decision in U.S. courts.  Orellana explained Chevron’s efforts to discredit the Ecuadorian court and undermine the plaintiffs.  According to Orellana, “what is at stake here is the ability of the Ecuadorian legal system to have its decision rendered effective, and the ability of the United States to cooperate with other countries in giving force to those decisions.”

This is only the latest development in a case that began in 1993, when Ecuadorian residents affected by the oil pollution first sued Texaco in New York.  The lawsuit alleged that Texaco, which produced oil in Ecuador from 1964 to 1990, caused the largest oil-related environmental catastrophe in the world, which includes dumping oil-drilling waste, contaminating forests, and causing illnesses, including cancer and birth defects, and deaths among the affected communities.  Texaco, and later Chevron (which purchased Texaco, Inc. in 2001), argued that the case should be heard in Ecuador.  Although a decision was rendered in the case, the legal battle is far from over.  Chevron has announced its intent to appeal the judgment. 

The recording of the dicussion with Marcos Orellana is available here.

For more information, please contact Mr. Orellana.