Scorched Earth: Inside the Epic Battle Between Steven Donzinger and Chevron

by David Sirota

In 2011, an Ecuadorian court issued a landmark $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron for decades of oil pollution in the Amazon rainforest. The ruling was celebrated as a historic win for Indigenous communities—and for the New York-based lawyer who helped lead the case, Steven Donziger.

But Chevron never paid. Instead, the company fought back, accusing Donziger of fraud and waging an aggressive legal campaign that would ultimately leave him disbarred and under house arrest.

Scorched Earth traces the twists and turns of this extraordinary transnational from oil fields in the rainforest to film festivals in Utah to courtrooms in New York, from a celebrated David-versus-Goliath victory to one of the most controversial corporate counterattacks in recent memory. Along the way, exploring the broader stakes—how American law can be weaponized, what accountability looks like in the climate change era, and where the line is drawn between righteous advocacy and misconduct.

At the center of it all is Donziger himself. Cast by some as a crusader who stood up to Big Oil; to others, as a lawyer who crossed ethical boundaries. Scorched Earth ultimately in this high-stakes battle, who is the villain? And are there any heroes?

Audible Audio

Published October 2, 2025

Reviews

[Heather Boysenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful web I didn’t expect to enthrall me.

This series balances the right touch of journalistic integrity with the experiences of the subjects, making it feel more like listening to a 60 Minutes extended series than a podcast Audible has tried to sculpt into a book. It flows very smoothly and I’m exited to read/listen to more from the author.

It’s a perfect listen to do in one sitting, and manages to crack into the core of our society without leaving you feeling hopeless? That alone is a feat.

[Patty Hagar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Befuddling is the word that comes to mind; criminally so. The outcome is not surprising: the environment, the victims, and indigenous people’s lives are dismissed in favor of corporate greed and lack of accountability. It’s the legal maneuvering and gaping loopholes that were used successfully to dodge responsibility that befuddle me.

[Brenda Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a review of the complexities of a world-impacting case. Reminds me of what my daddy said: there are two sides to every street, and sometimes you don’t know which side is the right one. So sad that the environmental impact on these people was overshadowed by the courts in every direction.

[Dana Zanotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting battle about oil!