There are reports that Steve Donziger, the now famous plaintiffs lawyer in the Chevron Ecuador case - yeah, the same one who took a back seat to new lawyers led by the Patton Boggs firm - is striking back at U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan, saying that Kaplan was biased against Chevron and that is why the New York Judge ruled to block collection of any damage award from an Ecuador court trial that many knew was fixed in Ecuador's favor to start with. In the process Steve is essentially proving what Kaplan has charged Donziger with doing in Ecuador: namely working to bully the courts.
Donziger's trying to collect his money. That's all.
The bottom line is that Donziger won a sham trial in Ecuador - a country known for its unequal distribution of income, corrupt government, and curtailment of human rights - and did so in a way that Kaplan said, and did so with evidence, was fraudulent, and now wants to collect his share of the billions he said he expected to make from this case years ago.
Here's a reminder:
What a laugh.
What gets me, and has spurred me to blog about this since late 2007 or so, is that Ecuador gets off scott free from having to change its culture in any real way. President Correa's still corrupt, still trying to make people think he's an environmentalist when he's not. The ruling political party that controls the courts is still in power and waiting for its handout from the Chevron ruling (good luck). Anyone who blogs a view that the President's acting like a thug gets jailed. And Petroecuador, Ecuador's state-owned oil producer is still getting away with major oil spills (some 15 in all) that it then blames on Chevron, even though the American Oil Company isn't even there and hasn't been in Ecuador since 1992. Oh, and there are people, some in the media, who actually believe that garbage!
If you hear someone defend Ecuador, ask them what they know about the country's terribly ran oil production system, corrupt courts, and abysmal human rights record. Then watch them talk; they'd have nothing to say.
Crazy.
Donziger's trying to collect his money. That's all.
The bottom line is that Donziger won a sham trial in Ecuador - a country known for its unequal distribution of income, corrupt government, and curtailment of human rights - and did so in a way that Kaplan said, and did so with evidence, was fraudulent, and now wants to collect his share of the billions he said he expected to make from this case years ago.
Here's a reminder:
What a laugh.
What gets me, and has spurred me to blog about this since late 2007 or so, is that Ecuador gets off scott free from having to change its culture in any real way. President Correa's still corrupt, still trying to make people think he's an environmentalist when he's not. The ruling political party that controls the courts is still in power and waiting for its handout from the Chevron ruling (good luck). Anyone who blogs a view that the President's acting like a thug gets jailed. And Petroecuador, Ecuador's state-owned oil producer is still getting away with major oil spills (some 15 in all) that it then blames on Chevron, even though the American Oil Company isn't even there and hasn't been in Ecuador since 1992. Oh, and there are people, some in the media, who actually believe that garbage!
If you hear someone defend Ecuador, ask them what they know about the country's terribly ran oil production system, corrupt courts, and abysmal human rights record. Then watch them talk; they'd have nothing to say.
Crazy.
So this unknown person "zennie" is now an expert on Ecuadorian law, culture and politics? No need to attack this messenger b/c it's clear that he's never been there and has some anger to express -- who knows why? People are dying and many have died due to Texaco's unconscionable behavior. End of story, except that the courts will no doubt carry this sham on for years to come as Chevron tries to further delay the outcome, most recently with the courts in the Hague. Come on boys, man up and pay up. You did wrong and have been caught.
ReplyDeleteWell we know Joe knows nothing about anything either. I do not know how you can believe the pictures of fresh oil in a pit and then hear that this is from Texaco 20 years ago? It would be asphalt by now! These true believers like Joe are idots.
ReplyDeleteI can't even respond to this reasonably. "Come on down to Central America" ?? First, Ecuador is in SOUTH America. You know what is 'unethical'? Everything that Chevron has done to block this case from fair trial. Everything that Chevron has done to publicly slander and physically intimidate the people attempting to bring it to trial - not just Donziger but others volunteering their time. If that money is awarded, do you know how much international pressure will be on the Ecuadorian government to spend it wisely? It would also be a HUGE symbolic victory for indigenous groups, many of which participate VERY actively in this case. Incidentally, David, if you actually visit Lago Agrio or the affected region, there is a TON of evidence linking the huge environmental and public health disaster - including oil pits that remain open to this day - directly to Chevron. The company pays off plenty of people to present a sympathetic story so my question is Zennie, how much are you getting out of this whole thing?
ReplyDeleteWhat am I getting out of this, Mitch? I will tell you. I've gotten death threats from Amazon Watch associates, name-calling, bulling of editors of SFGate.com, and stupid comments like the one you left.
ReplyDeleteYou know damn well those oil pits are owned by Petroecuador and there have been 118 oil spills since Chevron left. It's a JOKE that you all support a CORRUPT regime like that in Ecuador. It's shameful on your part.
The question is, how much do you get for doing this? Can't you get a real job or make your own value?