NY appeals judges may limit filmmaker raw footage ruling in Chevron-Ecuador dispute

NY judges may limit filmmaker raw footage ruling

NEW YORK — Federal appeals court judges in New York may limit the amount of raw footage that a filmmaker must turn over from his documentary about a legal dispute between Chevron and Ecuadoreans over oil contamination.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Wednesday after lawyers for filmmaker Joseph Berlinger appealed a judge’s order requiring the materials to be provided to Chevron.

The judges showed little sympathy for Berlinger’s claims that he should not have to turn over any raw footage.

The judges say they could order that the outtakes be limited to materials essential to Chevron’s effort to prove it is being unfairly treated by the courts in Ecuador.

The judges did not immediately rule.