Overview
- BHP was denied permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge a High Court finding that it can be held liable under Brazilian law for the 2015 Fundão dam collapse.
- Appeal judges said none of BHP’s liability arguments were reasonably defensible and dismissed claims the trial judge mishandled time‑limit issues.
- The group action will proceed in London, with a fast‑tracked appeal confined to the interest owed on legal costs after claimants’ fees rose above £213 million.
- BHP points to an estimated $32 billion reparation program in Brazil that it says compensated more than 625,000 people, and it argues about 240,000 UK claimants signed full releases and should end their cases.
- A further High Court trial expected in 2027 will focus on how much compensation is due, following a collapse that killed 19 people and dumped over 40 million cubic metres of mine waste into the Doce River.