Judge Says ChevronTexaco May Stand Trial

[Snazzy]

Judge Says ChevronTexaco May Stand Trial

By DAVID KRAVETS
The Associated Press
Thursday, March 25, 2004; 10:36 PM

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge says ChevronTexaco Corp. could stand trial for civil damages in the United States on allegations its Nigerian subsidiary was linked to the deaths of nine people during oil protests in 1998 and 1999.

The suit was filed in 1999 in federal court on behalf of victims of attacks against protesters on an offshore oil platform in May 1998 and on residents of two villages in January 1999.

ChevronTexaco argued to U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston that the company is not liable for wrongful death and other damages to survivors. The company said it cannot be sued in American courts for the actions of its subsidiary, Chevron Nigeria Ltd., known as CNL.

The subsidiary is accused of links to the Nigerian military. Soldiers allegedly carried out the attacks on protesters who boarded the company's Parabe platform 9 miles off the Nigerian coast. It is also accused of assisting in the raid on two villages near a Nigerian exporting facility.

Similar cases are pending against other U.S-based oil concerns. Farmers in Myanmar have accused Unocal Corp. of being complicit in human rights violations carried out by that country's military. ExxonMobil Corp. is accused of abuse allegations in Indonesia.

....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25296-2004Mar25.html

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The SS Condi Rice (ChevronTexaco) could not be reached for comment.

[burrowowl]

1. YES!

YES! YES! YES!

And may they get convicted and put in JAIL! REAL JAIL!

[Occulus]

2. Would that be a first?

Jailing a corporation?

[Snazzy]

3. Ought to be a way

If a corp can have access to the Bill of Rights, we should show it access to a jail (somehow?).

[Zhade]

4. Simple: jail the CE and BoD for such crimes.

It is, after all, negligent homicide - at best - to allow such actions to occur with your company's consent.