Victims of environmental pollution caused by Chevron-Texaco at the Ecuadorian Amazon today have announced they will take legal action against the U.S. law firm Patton Boggs that represented them.
The actions include ethical complaints against the firm, that withdrew from the judicial process after giving 15 million dollars to Chevron, lawyer Pablo Fajardo told Andes news agency.
Patton Boggs, based in Washington, agreed to give the money to Chevron and in exchange, the company would withdraw the allegation of fraud and malicious prosecution against the firm.
In this sense, the law firm swore it would deliver information and evidence against the plaintiffs and their U.S. lawyer Steven Donziger, according to media outlets.
The decision was applauded by Chevron-Texaco, that agreed to end the dispute with the firm.
“What Patton Boggs did is pretty serious”, said Fajardo, adding the contract is void. “One cannot violate the principle of client-lawyer confidentiality”, he added.
Texaco, subsequently acquired by Chevron, was sentenced in Ecuador for environmental damages between 1964 and 1990. (PL)