Nevada justices reject jurisdiction appeal in Philippine province's effort to sue Barrick Gold

A Philippine island province that experienced mining waste disasters in the 1990s has lost its final plea for a Nevada court to hear its claim for damages against Barrick Gold Corp.

The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Thursday that state courts don't have jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit that the province of Marinduque (mehr-in-DOO'-kay) filed in 2005.

The justices ruled 6-0 that a lower court judge correctly decided that courts in Canada or the Philippines are more appropriate venues. Barrick is based in Toronto.

James McCarthy, a lawyer for the Philippine province, says he's disappointed to lose on the procedural question. But after 10 years, he says he looks forward to finally getting to the issues of the case in another court.

A spokesman for the company didn't immediately respond to messages.