Ecuador Wins Judgment Against Chevron, Again!

Fake ad: Oil companies should clean up their messes.

Ecuadoran appeals court has upheld last year's 9.5 billion dollar judgment against Chevron Corporation. The oil giant's messy oil contamination in the Ecuador rain forest just might eventually get a decent cleanup effort. But don't celebrate just yet, slick money stills talks while the health concerns continue to walk.

San Francisco Chronicle excerpts:

Chevron has waged a fierce legal campaign to avoid paying, asking courts in the United States and an international arbitration panel in Europe to block enforcement of last year's verdict. The San Ramon company no longer has assets in Ecuador, meaning the plaintiffs must seek enforcement elsewhere

Last year, the company persuaded a U.S. federal judge to issue an order blocking the plaintiffs from enforcing the verdict in the 18-year lawsuit, closely watched around the world for the precedent it could set. But the lawyers suing Chevron questioned the judge's authority to prevent enforcement outside the United States, and an appeals court lifted his order.

So when will the world courts say to this corporate monster, BASTA! Enough is enough. Stop using the international courts as your personal get out of jail free card and own up to "your" mess.

Unfortunately, as long as those who pass legal judgments can be influenced ($$$), justice will be cleanly compromised.

Price of Chevron Gas In California Today: click