Chevron Appeals Massive Amazon Pollution Fine

Oil company claims indigenous supporters 'corrupted' trial
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 14, 2011 1:42 AM CDT
Chevron Appeals Massive Amazon Pollution Fine
A leader of the Amazon Defense Coalition and a plaintiff lawyer attend a press conference last month in Quito, Ecuador, hailing the massive fine against Chevron for pollution.   (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Chevron has launched an appeal challenging a whopping $9.5 billion penalty for polluting much of Ecuador's Amazon region. Company attorneys are accusing lawyers and supporters of the indigenous groups who brought the suit against Chevron of "corrupting" the trial, and claims that the finding against the corporation is filled with "numerous legal and factual defects," reports the BBC.

Texaco, which merged with Chevron 10 years ago, was found liable for dumping 18 billion gallons of toxins into the Amazon river basin. Crops failed, animals were killed and cancer increased among residents, the suit against Chevron charged. The corporation has filed its appeal in an Ecuador court, but also plans to challenge the decision in US courts and at an international tribunal. (More Ecuador stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X