Opinion ID: 2646624
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Treaty Arbitration in The Hague

Text: While the Lago Agrio litigation was pending in Ecuador, Chevron sought arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador (“the Republic”) in front of the 3 Case: 12-16216 Date Filed: 12/18/2013 Page: 4 of 23 Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. Chevron claimed that the Republic had violated its obligations under the Ecuador-United States Bilateral Investment Treaty (“Treaty”). Specifically, Chevron contended that the Republic breached the Treaty by: (1) failing to notify the Lago Agrio court that Chevron was fully released from any liability relating to the environmental pollution through a settlement agreement between Chevron and the Republic; (2) refusing to “indemnify, protect and defend” the rights of Chevron in connection with the Lago Agrio litigation; (3) “openly campaigning for a decision against Chevron”; and (4) engaging “in a pattern of improper and fundamentally unfair conduct.” This Treaty arbitration remains ongoing. Chevron seeks, inter alia, indemnification or damages from the Republic to cover the cost of the monetary award entered against Chevron in the Lago Agrio litigation. To support its position in the Treaty arbitration, Chevron has sought materials and documents in the possession of experts who testified for the plaintiffs in the Lago Agrio litigation, including experts residing in the United States. In turn, the Republic has requested discovery from Chevron’s expert witnesses in the Lago Agrio litigation, including Dr. Hinchee in Florida.