Steven Donziger, the U.S. plaintiffs lawyer who helped to win a $19 billion environmental judgment against Chevron Corporation in Ecuador, can’t bring counterclaims in Chevron’s fraud and racketeering case against him, a magistrate judge concluded on April 15.

Donziger accused Chevron of using false and misleading statements to undermine the Ecuadorian judiciary, the plaintiffs and their attorneys. He alleged that the company should be held liable for extortion, duress and common law fraud.