Brazilian courts split Braskem liability case over Maceió ground subsidence

The 3ª Vara Federal de Alagoas ruled that the R$ 4 billion claim against Braskem S/A for damage caused by a mining‑related ground subsidence in Maceió must be divided between federal and state jurisdictions. The portion concerning residents in the officially monitored "Area of Criticality 01" will remain in the federal court, as the losses there are already covered by an existing public civil action.

Claims for compensation by owners of properties on the outskirts and adjacent neighborhoods were transferred to the 8ª Vara Cível da Capital, because the lawsuit targets only the private company Braskem and does not involve federal entities. The judge cited constitutional jurisdiction rules, stating that the federal court lacks competence over purely private‑party claims. The case now proceeds in the state court for the remaining indemnity requests.