The Chevron oil pollution litigation in Ecuador continues to generate acrimony and confusion in American legal circles. The latest bizarre twist concerns Patton Boggs, one of the best known law and lobbying firms in Washington, DC. Patton Boggs got into trouble with an uncharacteristic alliance with the controversial New York plaintiffs' lawyer suing Chevron in Ecuador. The law firm tried to get out of trouble by agreeing earlier this month to an unusual settlement with Chevron. The pact included an apology and expression of "regret" for ever having taken on the oil company.