Chevron Takes Pollution Case Bias Issue to Feds, Ecuador Officials--and YouTube
Accused by an indigenous group of contaminating the environment in the Amazon region decades ago, Chevron Corp. is fighting back with videotape allegedly showing the judge in the ongoing Ecuador case discussing his planned upcoming ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in October or November of this year.
In addition to complaining to the U.S. Department of Justice and authorities in Ecuador about the judge’s claimed bias and requesting an investigation, Chevron has also posted the material on its own corporate website and on YouTube, reports Dow Jones Newswires.
In an interview with the news service, the judge, Juan Nunez, said he has done nothing wrong and denied having held any improper meeting in the case.
The article says the videotape was recorded by businessmen seeking to obtain an environmental cleanup contract after the ruling in the case, which is expected to be decided in the plaintiffs’ favor. A court-appointed expert estimated damages at $27 billion.
Attorney Steven Donziger of New York represents plaintiffs in the case. He called the situation “bizarre” and said it “raises more questions about Chevron than it does about the judge,” reports Dow Jones.
