“This is an unprecedented legal ruling situation,” said lawyer Murray Klippenstein, commenting on a Monday (July 22) decision by Superior Court of Ontario Justice Carole Brown to allow a lawsuit to proceed in Canada that could hold a Canadian mining company responsible for murder and rapes at a mining project in Guatemala.
The mining company is Hudbay Minerals.
Klippenstein represents 13 Mayan Guatemalans. One of the plaintiffs is Angelica Choc the widow of Adolfo Ich. Eleven women, who Klippenstein says were gang raped by security personnel, are also plaintiffs.
Klippenstein says that Justice Brown’s ruling now means Canadian companies could be held responsible for the actions of subsidiaries outside of Canada.
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda spoke to Murray Klippenstein about the ruling, and the goal of the lawsuit of his clients.
More information:
Press release from Kippensteins Barristers & Solicitors – here
Decision of Superior Court of Ontario Justice Carole Brown (pdf) – here
Pro-lawsuit website (includes photos and video) – www.chocversushudbay.com
Hudbay Minerals website – www.hudbayminerals.com
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