Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP on Tuesday accused environmental lawyer Steven Donziger of targeting the firm with sweeping and unnecessary subpoenas in an attempt to “settle old scores with those he views as responsible for his downfall,” according to a motion lodged in New York federal court.
Donziger, who’s facing criminal contempt charges, is set to begin trial Monday over accusations he disobeyed U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan’s court orders in a civil dispute with Chevron over a $9.5 billion environmental judgment from a case tried in Ecuador. Donziger has argued that he’s the victim of “vindictive and selective prosecution” orchestrated by judges and prosecutors all biased in favor of Chevron.
Gibson Dunn said Tuesday that rather than grappling with the merits of those charges, Donziger issued subpoenas targeting the firm and its partners who obtained the judgment against him. Those subpoenas should be quashed, the firm told the court.
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