A Dutch court has ruled that an energy company jointly owned by Shell and ExxonMobil is liable for the psychological suffering of residents in the north of the country whose homes have been damaged by small earthquakes caused by gas drilling.
In a ruling Wednesday, a court in the northern city of Assen held the Netherlands Petroleum Co., known by its Dutch acronym NAM, liable for so-called “immaterial damages” suffered by residents and ordered the company to pay them compensation.
NAM says in a statement that it is studying the ruling.
NAM official Thijs Jurgens says the company has “always stated that we are responsible for earthquake-related damage” including immaterial damages.
The court case was launched by 127 residents who claimed they suffered emotionally because of the earthquakes.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Glacier Collapse Behind Nepal Flood Shows Region’s Climate Risk 
Four Patients Affected, One Paralyzed, After Drug Mix-Up at Nashville Hospital 
Nuclear Verdicts Go Boom, Increase 40.7% in 2025 
Londoners Find ‘Horrendous’ Cracks in Their Homes After Successive Heat Waves 
