SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian judge has ordered Shell and BASF to pay $382 million into a workers compensation fund. That is to potentially cover more than 1,000 workers who may have been contaminated at an agricultural chemicals plant and are locked in a lawsuit with the companies.
BASF SA is the Brazilian subsidiary of the Germany-based chemicals company. It says it will appeal the ruling.
Shell Brasil SA says in a statement it'll abide by the ruling pending a higher court's decision on the overall class-action lawsuit.
Prosecutors demanded the companies pay into the compensation fund now.
In May, a judge rejected that request. But late last week, a higher court overruled, ordering the compensation be paid.
