In a significant legal ruling, London’s High Court has found mining company BHP liable for a dam collapse in Brazil in 2015, labeled as the country’s worst environmental disaster. The dam failure resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals, contamination of the river, and destruction of numerous homes. The civil lawsuit, which includes over 600,000 claimants comprising civilians, local governments, and businesses, has been valued at approximately £36 billion ($48 billion).
BHP has announced plans to appeal the ruling while contesting the lawsuit. The company maintains that many claimants involved in the London lawsuit have already received compensation in Brazil. The dam was operated by Samarco, a joint enterprise between BHP and Brazilian mining company Vale. The court was persuaded to hold the trial in London due to BHP’s headquarters being based in the UK at the time of the incident.
According to the court’s judgment, the unsafe practice of heightening the dam contributed directly to its eventual collapse, rendering BHP liable under Brazilian law. BHP stands firm in its position, claiming the London case duplicates efforts already underway in Brazil. This legal battle has included conflicts between BHP and the law firm Pogust Goodhead, which represents the claimants. BHP contends that settlements reached in Brazil decrease the potential claims in the UK lawsuit.
Parallel to this legal action, there have been accusations against Pogust Goodhead regarding its handling of claims from Brazilian victims. Claims have been made that the firm utilized misleading advertising and imposed excessive fees, which potentially deprived affected individuals of essential resources. Criticism has been echoed by judges in Brazil, questioning the law firm’s practices and their impact on vulnerable claimants. The outcome of the ongoing disputes may influence the resolution of the complex and controversial aftermath of the dam collapse in Mariana, Brazil.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8034v2e3l3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss