US judge in Chevron-Ecuador case won't recuse self

[Judi Lynn]

US judge in Chevron-Ecuador case won't recuse self
NEW YORK | Mon May 9, 2011 3:09pm EDT

NEW YORK May 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. judge who has temporarily blocked enforcement of an $18 billion judgment in Ecuador against Chevron Corp (CVX.N) has rejected calls by plaintiffs in that case to recuse himself.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected claims that he was biased in the case, calling his alleged improper remarks and rulings "perfectly banal."

The 18-year-old legal battle centers on allegations that the former Texaco, which Chevron acquired a decade ago, polluted parts of Ecuador's jungle in the 1970s and 1980s, sickening local residents and ruining their land.

Kaplan had on March 7 issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the Ecuadorean plaintiffs from trying to collect damages outside their country. He scheduled a Nov. 14 trial date to decide whether to make the injunction permanent.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/09/chevron-ecuador-judge-idUSN0924839420110509?rpc=401

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4845051

http://warincontext.org.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/lewis-kaplan1.jpg

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan