$70bn class action case against BHP opens in London

Original article by Hans van Leeuwen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 23-Oct-24

Britain’s High Court has commenced hearing a massive class action lawsuit against BHP over the Samarco iron ore tailings dam collapse in 2015. Law firm Pogust Goodhead is representing about 62,000 Brazilians in the class action. BHP and Vale jointly owned Samarco, which operated the Germano iron ore mine; a key issue that will be addressed during the first days of the hearing is whether Samarco was an independent and autonomous company, or whether BHP was effectively in control of the iron ore project and is therefore responsible for the tragedy that resulted in 19 deaths and an environmental disaster.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, VALE SA, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA, POGUST GOODHEAD, HIGH COURT OF ENGLAND AND WALES

Push for BHP boss to give evidence in Brazil dam disaster

Original article by Simon Johanson
The Age – Page: Online : 17-May-23

The class action against BHP over the Samarco tailings dam collapse in 2015 is slated to be heard by the UK’s High Court in October 2024. The class action is being led by British law firm Pogust Goodhead; global managing partner Tom Goodhead says the firm wants senior BHP executives to give evidence if the case proceeds to trial, potentially including current CEO Mike Henry. He adds that the firm wants BHP to "do the right thing" and attempt to reach a settlement in the case, more than seven years after the disaster that claimed 19 lives and caused an environmental catastrophe.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, POGUST GOODHEAD, HIGH COURT OF ENGLAND AND WALES, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA

London judges backtrack to revive $9.43-billion Brazil dam lawsuit against mining giant BHP

Original article by
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 28-Jul-21

BHP faces renewed legal action over the collapse of the Samarco iron ore tailings dam in Brazil in 2015, after London’s Court of Appeal ruled that a $9.4bn lawsuit can proceed. A lower court had struck it out the lawsuit by 200,000 claimants in 2020, ruling that the UK legal action was an abuse of process. The Court of Appeal had upheld this ruling in March. BHP has contended that the case should not proceed in the UK as the tailings dam disaster is also subject to legal action in Brazil.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, COURT OF APPEAL (GREAT BRITAIN), SAMARCO MINERACAO SA