"Chevron Corp.'s fight against plaintiffs seeking damages for crude oil pollution in Ecuador continued yesterday when the oil giant won a temporary restraining order against its opponents.

The order (pdf), entered by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York, would, in theory, prevent the plaintiffs from immediately enforcing any judgment against Chevron in the case pending in Ecuador.

No such judgment has been issued yet, but Chevron is keen to close off opportunities for the plaintiffs to collect damages in the United States and elsewhere. Chevron has no assets in Ecuador."

Lawrence Hurley reports for Greenwire February 9, 2011. [2]