New York environmental attorney Steven Donziger on Wednesday asked the federal judge overseeing his criminal contempt case stemming from a yearslong saga with Chevron Corp. over pollution in Ecuador to delay his upcoming trial in light of logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Donziger’s bench trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 9. However in a letter to U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska, his lawyer asked that the proceeding be continued until it can be conducted safely and fairly, and after certain related proceedings have been resolved.
Richard Friedman of Friedman Rubin PLLP noted that all of Donziger’s attorneys and many of the expected witnesses currently reside outside of New York, and thus would be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the state, pursuant to an order by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued in response to the spread of the coronavirus around the country.
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