In 2015 and 2016, a local committee comprised of community members from the Sonora River Basin, with the support of international NGO PODER, filed several class action lawsuits against Grupo México and the Mexican Government agencies in relation to damages caused by a copper sulphate spill which affected the community’s water supply. The lawsuits alleged violations of communities’ right to work, property, healthy environment, access to water, to compensation for damages and to participation in public matters. A district court judge in Sonora ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the re-testing of the community’s water sources, the re-opening of the promised medical clinic to treat health concerns caused by the spill, and the trust fund to aid with clean up procedures. Several of the class action lawsuits are still ongoing. 

The Resource Centre's case profile on this lawsuit is here.

This research was completed solely by LIDS with support from Orrick.