All good things come to an end, or so the saying goes, and so does monster group litigation.

Everything about Municipio de Mariana & others v BHP Group Plc and BHP Group Ltd - a case centered on whether mining company BHP, formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange, was responsible for the 2015 Fundão Dam collapse in Minas Gerais, Brazil - and has filled court 15 of the Rolls - has been big.

The number of claimants (some 620,000), the skeleton arguments (for opening 607 pages for both parties), written closing submissions (1012 for both parties), and the legal teams (we’ve lost count). 

The case started on Monday 21 October 2024 and, after a Christmas break, on Thursday 13 March 2025 it came to an end.

Mrs Justice O’Farrell acknowledged the moment in an effortlessly succinct way. After expressing her thanks to all including the stenographers and interpreters, she said: ‘This case was identified as one that was challenging but achievable. We have achieved it, so thank you.’

Obviously, judgment was reserved. 

Indigenous Brazilians outside Rolls Building

Indigenous Brazilians outside the Rolls Building for the opening of Mariana Dam group claim against BHP

Source: Michael Cross

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