:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bloomberglinea/7VBEIBFSUVC4XGLVCBSWV6BATM.jpg "Vale partner faces US billion lawsuit against BHP UK over Mariana")
Bloomberg — A UK judge has set a trial date for April 2024 against BHP over the 2015 Fundão dam collapse, with claims for around 10 billion pounds ($12 billion) in damages.
An eight-week trial is underway nearly nine years after a dam in Mariana (MG) burst, killing 19 people and unleashing sewage that polluted waterways in two Brazilian states.
“Given the scale and nature of the case, it is not surprising that there have been challenges, appeals and modifications to the claims,” Judge Finola O’Farrell said in a decision released Wednesday. “However, now is the time to avoid further delays and make substantial progress in resolving the dispute.”
Current and former executives of London-listed BHP, They face cross-examination over their roles in the disaster, according to Boguest Goodhead, a firm that litigates on behalf of more than 400,000 Brazilian claimants. The firm estimates this is the largest group case in English civil court history.
BHP said in an emailed opinion that the hearing, scheduled for April 2024, will not discuss any compensation and that no decision has been made about BHP’s alleged liability or when to pay the plaintiffs.
“PHP completely denies the claims of the English plaintiffs, and we believe that this is unnecessary as it duplicates issues already covered by the current and ongoing work of the Renova Foundation, under the supervision of the Brazilian courts – or the objects of ongoing legal proceedings in Brazil”, the company says.
BHP recently requested that Vale (VALE3) share liability if it loses the UK class action. Vale did not mention the caseAlthough the dam is managed by Samarco, it is a joint venture between the two mining companies.
Vale said its legal advisers will carefully consider the details and submit its response in a timely and appropriate manner.
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