Bowoto v. Chevron is an historic lawsuit brought against Chevron on behalf of unarmed Nigerians who were tortured, shot and killed while peacefully protesting at Chevron's Parabe platform off the coast of Nigeria in 1998. On May 25, 1998, Larry Bowoto, along with approximately one hundred other Nigerians, peacefully assembled in the hope that Chevron officials would meet with chiefs and elders to discuss how the corporation's drilling practices were causing increasing impoverishment and environmental degradation of their communities.

At dawn on May 28, Chevron transported its security personnel together with the Nigerian military to the platform on multiple Chevron-contracted helicopters. Upon arriving to the site, personnel in one of the helicopters began shooting at the unarmed protestors, killing two and seriously wounding others.

After the Chevron-backed attack, the Nigerian military detained and tortured several of the protestors, including hanging one man, Bola Oyinbo, by his wrists from a ceiling fan. Chevron also held the bodies of the two men that were killed for over a month before releasing them to the victims' families.

The suit went to trial in San Francisco, California on October 28, 2008 after federal court Judge Susan Illston rejected Chevron's numerous attempts to dismiss the case. Plaintiffs are suing Chevron under the Alien Tort Statute-one of the nation's oldest laws-California law, and Nigerian law for cruel and wrongful death, extrajudicial killing, torture and other violations.

A related case alleging Chevron has engaged in unfair business practices is also set for trial in San Francisco Superior Court in September 2009.

Complaints

• Click here to see the operative federal complaint.


• Click here to see the operative state court complaint.

Summary Judgment Rulings

• Click here Order re: Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Claims 10 through 17


• Click here Order re: Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Remaining Federal Law Claims


• Click here Order re: Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment on the Act of State Defense; and Defendants' Renewed Motion to
  Request the Views of the United States


• Click here Order Granding Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Crimes Against Humanity Claim

Media

• Click here for Video on the Bowoto Trial in San Francisco