Toxic-waste-dumping claim settled
A settlement has been agreed by oil trading giant Trafigura over claims
that toxic waste dumped in the Ivory Coast made thousands of people ill.
The High Court in London has formally approved the confidential settlement - described as "generous" by Trafigura's counsel, Edwin Glasgow QC - with the Abidjan Personal Injury group.
Trafigura said it regretted the incident, but did not accept legal liability as the dumping was carried out by a contractor who had acted without authority.
Says Robert Jay QC, for the claimants: "My solicitors have met 24,000 clients over the last 10 days or so and each of them, bar none, has accepted it and warmly welcomed it, and the fact that this litigation has now been resolved."
The claims were launched in August 2006 after 'slops' were deposited near Abidjan, the African country's commercial capital, from the Probo Koala, a ship hired by Trafigura.