In Ecuador, both sides in the lawsuit over Chevron’s contamination of the Amazonian rain forest have filed challenges to a verdict reached earlier this week. On Monday, an Ecuadorian judge ordered Chevron to pay an $8.6 billion fine, and an equal amount in punitive damages, for dumping billions of gallons of toxic oil waste into Ecuador’s rain forest since the 1970s. The Amazonian plaintiffs in the case say the amount is too low, while Chevron has denounced the ruling as “illegitimate.” Chevron spokesperson James Craig accused the judge in the case of collaborating with the plaintiffs.

James Craig: “It seemed obvious that there was going to be a judgment against the company and that it was going to be basically managed and directed by the plaintiffs’ lawyers, so we expected something along these lines. But obviously it’s not something we’re going to sit down and accept. So we do definitely plan to appeal.”

Chevron has also filed challenges against the Ecuadorian government and the plaintiffs in U.S. and international courts. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa accused Chevron of conducting a smear campaign to delegitimize the lawsuit.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa: “The government has not had anything to do with it. Our system of justice is absolutely independent. However, the strategy of Chevron to delegitimize the process — it seemed that they knew they were going to lose — was to erode, to accuse the Ecuadorian government of getting involved in this trial, which we were promoting.”