US Jury Begins Deleberations in landmark Suit Aganist Chevron
Posted by jinn on November 26th, 2008
After spirited closing arguments yesterday by both attorneys for the plaintiffs and the defendants in the case of Bowoto v Chevron being tried in San Francisco, the 9-member jury for the Northern California District Court began deliberations late in the day. As of Wednesday afternoon at 1pm (when court closed for the holiday weekend) a verdict is still to be determined. For an account of the closing statements read the latest articles in the San Francisco Chronicle by Bob Egelkos and The LA Times piece by Richard Paddock
The jury will need to find liability on the part of Chevron for the killing, injury and torture of the Nigerian plaintiffs for the following violations under the Alien Tort Statute:
- Torture
- Wrongful Death
- Cruel, inhumane, degrading treatment
- Assault
- Battery
- Negligence
Be sure to read the Bowoto v Chevron Blog for a full account of the court proceedings since the trial opened on October 27.