In a judgment handed down by the Court of Rotterdam, Pogust Goodhead was successful in securing the jurisdiction of the Dutch courts in our claim against aluminium producer Norsk Hydro.

We represent thousands of victims, including Indigenous communities, Amazonians, and descendants of slaves affected by contaminated waters in Northern Brazil. The pollutive activities of Norsk Hydro at a site in Barcarena, Pará have caused untold damage to the environment and public health in the surrounding area.

They have suffered poor physical health, including deterioration or loss of sight, pain and weaknesses in their bodies as well as babies born with malformations. They have lost the water they once relied upon to fish, grow crops, swim, hunt, and rear animals, as well as their access to previous sources of income from selling products reared and sourced from the rivers.  

Our clients agree that this is a direct result of at least ten environmental disasters at the world’s largest aluminium refinery, belonging to Norsk Hydro, which has seen pollutive waste being released across land and water.

Despite this, Norsk Hydro has refused to take full responsibility, and those affected have not had access to fair and full redress. Now, they have taken their case to the Dutch courts.

The Rotterdam District Court has ruled that the case can proceed to the merits phase.

This is the third ruling of its kind in 2022 in cases led by Pogust Goodhead, with European courts becoming the gatekeepers of environmental damage caused by large corporations.