Attorney Steven Donziger with the Cofan people in Ecuador. Photo from StevenDonziger.Com

The Patton Boggs law firm has agreed to pay $15 million and withdraw from a case involving a tribe in Ecuador that accused energy giant Chevron of polluting the environment.

Patton Boggs was representing Cofan people, who were awarded $18 billion judgment for pollution attributed to Chevron's development activities in the Amazon. The award was reduced to $9.5 billion but the company refused to pay.

Eventually, the dispute made it to the U.S. courts and a federal judge threw out the award, saying it was obtained through fraud. The tribe, however, and attorney Steven Donziger continue to pursue their case against Chevron.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms Chevron’s continuing campaign of extortion and intimidation to retaliate against rainforest villagers for holding it accountable for its environmental crimes in the courts of Ecuador, where Chevron chose to hold the trial and promised to accept jurisdiction," the Cofan plaintiffs and Donziger said in a joint statement.

Get the Story:
Chevron, Patton Boggs settle their epic legal battle over jungle oil pits in Ecuador (The Washington Post 5/8)
Legendary D.C. Law Firm To Pay Chevron In Ecuador Pollution Case (NPR 5/8)

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Judge won't make Chevron pay $9M judgment to Ecuador tribe (03/04)