After lawyer exonerated Vale from tragedy, company revoked defense's authorization to speak on its behalf.
"Vale clarifies that it has not authorized and does not authorize third parties, including contracted lawyers, to speak on its behalf. Vale reiterates emphatically that it will continue to cooperate with all investigations to ascertain the facts and that this is the focus of its management, along with supporting the affected families," the company said.
Reuters - Vale announced on Monday that it does not authorize lawyers hired by the company to speak on its behalf, following the publication in the press of a comment by a lawyer stating that the mining company would not be held responsible for the disaster in Brumadinho (MG) last Friday.
"Vale clarifies that it has not authorized and does not authorize third parties, including contracted lawyers, to speak on its behalf. Vale reiterates emphatically that it will continue to cooperate with all investigations to ascertain the facts and that this is the focus of its management, along with supporting the affected families," the company said.
The mining company's statement, issued after Folha de S.Paulo published a declaration by one of the company's main lawyers, Sergio Bermudes, indicating that the company "does not see any determining reasons for its responsibility" in the Brumadinho dam collapse, which left dozens dead and hundreds missing.
The company's director will not step down from her position "under any circumstances," the lawyer added to the newspaper.
"Vale sees no determining reasons for its liability. There was no negligence, recklessness, or incompetence," Bermudes said, according to the report. "Why does a dam break? There are several factors, and they will now be the subject of technical considerations."