Ecuadorean Environmental Claims Disavowed Under Oath by Plaintiffs′ Own Experts

Stratus Consulting has provided sworn declarations outlining the firm′s
knowledge of the plaintiffs′ lawyers′ misconduct in the ongoing
environmental litigation in Lago Agrio, Ecuador as well as testifying
that there is no scientific merit to the plaintiffs′ damages claims
against Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) and Texaco Petroleum (TexPet).

Chevron recently settled pending fraud and extortion claims against
Boulder, Colo.-based Stratus. Stratus had been the lead environmental
consultants to the plaintiffs′ lawyers in the trial.

'We are pleased that Stratus came forward to reveal the truth. We call
on others with knowledge of the fraud tainting the trial in Ecuador to
come forward and do the right thing,? said Hewitt Pate, Chevron vice
president and general counsel.

In sworn declarations (here
and here),
Stratus details the role the firm and the plaintiffs′ lawyers played in
drafting the supposedly independent damages report of Richard Cabrera,
which serves as an evidentiary basis of the 2011 judgment against
Chevron in Ecuador. Testimony also provides a direct account of lead
plaintiffs′ lawyer Steven Donziger′s control of the 'Cabrera Report?
process and the pressure Donziger applied to contrive damages attributed
to Chevron. In filings submitted in the Southern District of New York
today, Stratus′s representatives state:

• 
  'Stratus is not aware of any scientific evidence that people in the
  former concession area are drinking water contaminated with petroleum.?
  
• 
  'At no time while working on the Ecuador Project did I see any data
  supporting a finding of groundwater contamination from TexPet
  operations??
  
• 
  'I am not aware of any scientific data that shows that any adverse
  health effects are caused by contamination from petroleum operations
  in the Oriente.?
  
• 
  '?the conclusion that there were 1,400 "excess cancer′ deaths near the
  oil operations area is invalid and unsupported.?
  
• 
  'I am not aware of any credible scientific evidence that supports the
  statement that cancer rates were up to 30 times higher than normal, or
  that the incidence of childhood leukemia was found to have reached
  alarming levels.?
  
• 
  'I am not aware of credible scientific evidence that more than 9,000
  people in the area of oil operations in Ecuador are going to contract
  cancer in the coming decades or that links any such incidence to oil
  operations.?
  
• 
  'I am not aware of any credible scientific evidence that supports the
  statement that TexPet′s operation of the concession ravaged thousands
  of square miles of once-pristine rainforest, that it poisoned the
  environment of tens of thousands of people, or that it decimated
  indigenous tribes who lived in the region.?
  
• 
  'I disavow any and all findings and conclusions in all of my reports
  and testimony on the Ecuador Project. I deeply regret that I allowed
  myself and my company to be used in the Lago Agrio Litigation in the
  way that we were??
  

Stratus is the latest instance of individuals and groups formerly
aligned with the plaintiffs either accusing the plaintiffs′ lawyers of
fraud or providing firsthand accounts of corruption tainting the trial
and judgment. In January, a former Ecuadorian judge came forward to admit
his role in orchestrating the fraudulent judgment against Chevron. It
was also revealed
that Burford Capital, one of the largest financial
backers of the plaintiffs, accused
the plaintiffs′ lawyers of fraud and other misconduct in connection with
their pursuit of their case. In December, a former environmental
consultant to the plaintiffs came forward with additional proof
of fraud and the fabrication of evidence on the part of the
plaintiffs′ lawyers.

Chevron′s RICO
claim is set for trial on October 15, 2013.

Chevron is one of the world′s leading integrated energy companies, with
subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide. The company is involved in
virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for,
produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and
distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells
petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy;
provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources
of the future, including biofuels. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif.
More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Chevron Corporation

Kent Robertson, +1-925-790-3819