U.S. Corporation Ordered to Hand Over $400 Million to Native American Communities
A railroad corporation in the U.S., specifically in Texas, has been slapped with a hefty penalty of nearly 400 million dollars by a Seattle court, due to illegally transporting crude oil through the Swinomish tribe's reservation in Washington state. This judgment comes after the tribe won a previous lawsuit, with the court determining the amount of unlawful profits the company made and the compensation owed to the tribe. This whopping sum translates to around 370 million Euro.
The precise use of the company's ill-gotten gains, as well as the additional earnings stemming from these profits, remains a mystery according to the presiding judge. He suspects that the involved parties reaped substantial gains from their criminal activities, given the size of the settlement.
As reported by the "Seattle Times" newspaper, the company has been utilizing tracks within the Swinomish reservation under the tribe's permission since 1991. However, the daily limit for transportation stands at no more than 25 wagons, and the tribe must be kept informed about the nature of the cargo.
The Swinomish initiated legal action in 2015 upon discovering that the company overshot the authorized number of oil-laden wagons bound for nearby refineries. The railroad company had not secured the necessary authorization for the cargo and the volume transported.
The Swinomish reservation is situated on the Pacific coast in the northwestern U.S., approximately 100 kilometers north of Seattle. Fishing plays a significant role in both the cultural and economic life of the community. Last year saw a substantial spill of diesel fuel into the environment due to the derailment of two locomotives within the reservation.
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The corporation's disregard for the Swinomish tribe's restrictions led to this significant judgment in the USA. Indigenous peoples around the country are watching the case closely, hoping for similar victories in upholding their rights.
Furthermore, the resulting judgments could serve as a precedent for other corporations operating in Native American territories, enhancing their accountability and protection of Indigenous peoples' interests.
