Donziger Judge Punts Ethical-Disobedience Question To Trial- Law360

The judge overseeing an upcoming criminal trial against Chevron foe Steven Donziger said Monday she’ll leave for trial a decision about whether to bar Donziger from arguing that he was fulfilling his ethical duties to his clients when he violated court orders.

Donziger faces trial starting Nov. 4 on contempt misdemeanor charges arising from his flouting of court orders in an underlying case Chevron filed against Donziger, which stemmed from a $9 billion environmental judgment he obtained against the company in Ecuador in 2011.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska said in the order posted Monday that she’ll wait until the trial to rule on a motion “to apply the collateral bar doctrine to preclude Mr. Donziger from ‘disputing the validity, lawfulness and constitutionality’ of the orders” that he turn over his devices and accounts to a neutral forensic investigator, among other things.

To read the full article on Law360, click here.

Share