The court proceedings at Minas Gerais Essay

On December 18, 2015, during the court proceedings at Minas Gerais, the judge blocks BHP Billiton Limited (ADR) (NYSEBHP) and Vale SA (ADR) (NYSEVALE) Brazilian assets. Assets are frozen after considering the fact that their joint venture Samarco, was unable to pay for damage caused by the dam's bursting its mine last month. Frozen assets' value is not mentioned.
Federal Judge, Marcelo Aguiar Machado passed the judgment "I understand to be correct the allegation that Vale and BHP, as controllers of Samarco, can be classified as indirect polluters and as such responsible for the environmental damage caused." The judge ruled that both could be held responsible for the iron ore mine disaster in Minas Gerais state, for which the government is demanding $5 billion.
The other ruling from the judge comprises $500 million initial deposit within 30 days. This amount will be consumed to cover the clean-up process. Missing the deadline, the companies will be fined $375 thousand for each day till the ordered balance remains unpaid. Companies must come up with extensive clean-up plan to stop mud from contaminating mineral water sources.
The entities are also ordered that, within 10 days, they must also hire a company to evaluate the fish contamination caused by the mud slide, and the likely health related risk to humans who might eat them. If the deadline does not meet, companies will face $37.5 thousand daily fine.
During the procession, Vale defended itself by taking the stance that Samarco is an independent legal entity and a sizable company in its own right. Therefore, only Samarco should stand wholly responsible for the accident and the subsequent fines and damages.
Last month's dam burst caused 16 people dead, while above left above 800 people homeless. River Doce, which flows across two states, also got polluted up to 800 km length. The event's after effects are still going, and is considered Brazil's worst ever environmental disaster.
Prior to current judgment, analyses were carried out by the National Water Agency (ANA) and by the Brazilian Geological Service (CPRM). On December 15, 2015 the results on these were issued that reaffirmed the fact regarding River Doce quality to be compatible with the results found prior to the turbidity plume's passage.
Further confirmation is provided that if proper treatment is done, as per pot-ability standards defined by the Health Ministry (Ruling 2914), the water will be consumable by the locals without any hazard.
The numbers received from the collected samples comply with the law at large, except for the dissolved manganese. This can be cured to make up for the standards suited for consumption at the water treatment plants.
On December 17, 2015 Samarco claimed that its team visited the affected area to gather locals' data in terms of their jobs. Seven criteria were adopted to form a database
People who totally lost the agribusiness
People who suffered a partial agribusiness loss
People living on the property, where the agribusiness was affected
People who lost their shops