Report adds bizarre twist to Ecuador Chevron (Texaco) case

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - A lawsuit against Chevron Corp (CVX.N) over pollution of Ecuador's jungle in the 1990s took another bizarre turn when the plaintiffs released a report saying a man who helped force the removal of an Ecuadorean judge from the $27 billion case is a convicted drug smuggler.

The plaintiff-commissioned report was released on Thursday to the media by email.

"This report raises serious questions about Chevron's credibility with this so-called bribery scandal," Steven Donziger, a U.S. lawyer advising the Ecuadoreans in the pollution case told reporters on a conference call.

The local plaintiffs in the 16-year-old environmental damage case have said that Texaco, bought by Chevron Corp in 2001, dumped billions of gallons of polluted water in the jungle around where they live for more than two decades before leaving Ecuador in the early 1990s.

Judge Juan Nunez removed himself from the case after Chevron accused him of being involved in a $3 million bribery scheme for environmental remediation contracts. The judge, who did not admit any wrongdoing, said he removed himself from the case so it could proceed.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2937725720091029?sp=true

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somehow it smells like the CIA was in there with the oil cos

:shrug:

[Judi Lynn]

1. Felon Involved in Clandestine Videos of Ecuador Judge in Chevron Case

Felon Involved in Clandestine Videos of Ecuador Judge in Chevron Case
Frank Bajak and Jeanneth Valdivieso
The Associated Press
October 29, 2009

One of two men who made clandestine video recordings allegedly showing government bias and kickback-soliciting in a $27 billion oil contamination lawsuit is a convicted felon with a history of legal troubles, The Associated Press has learned.

An AP investigation also has found no evidence that Wayne Douglas Hansen worked in his professed field of environmental remediation.

Court records show that Hansen, 62, pleaded guilty to charges of facilitating the importation of marijuana in a 1987 case in Brownsville, Texas. A co-defendant said that Hansen was in charge of buying a DC-7 that prosecutors alleged would be used to fly 275,000 pounds (124,740 kilos) of marijuana to the United States from Colombia.

Hansen, a U.S. citizen who served 19 months in federal prison in that case, also lost civil lawsuits charging him with unleashing two pitbulls on a neighbor and her golden retriever, and with tearing up the walls of another person's house with a jackhammer, according to California county court records and the plaintiffs.

More:
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202435029781&rss=newswire

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=4124541

[troubledamerican]

2. I just saw the movie about this, 'CRUDE", in theatres now

The movie was very helpful and clear in showing the whole story, and all the characters involved.

Steven Donziger (lawyer mentioned in this story) is very inspiring. Other characters are too.

One of the few movies where I left the movie feeling inspired & motivated. Some smart people are involved with this case -- and they're on the side of justice.

[AnnaKay]

3. Anything goes

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Chevron is starting to feel the heat and in a desperate attempt to derail the lawsuit it turns to shady characters like Hansen. This nonsense needs to stop! Chevron- time to clean up this mess!!

http://thechevronpit.blogspot.com/

[lw710]

4. Smoke and Mirrors

This is just more smoke and mirrors courtesy of Chevron. Truly, they will resort to any tactic to deflect attention away from what is really going on. Thousands of people are suffering and it's stunning that a corporation as wealthy as Chevron would choose to turn its back on those less fortunate. I get that Chevron does not think it is to blame for the contamination but at a certain point doesn't the company have a moral obligation to help out? Figure out a settlement, help clean up the mess and send some relief to those in Ecuador not because you HAVE to but because you should WANT to. Here's a blog that my friend just started to help track what's going on: http//livesforoil.blogspot.com.