QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's highest court has upheld a $9.5 billion judgment against oil giant Chevron for decades of rainforest damage.

Plaintiffs celebrated the constitutional court's decision announced Tuesday night, saying it should pave the way for indigenous tribes to receive compensation for oil spills that contaminated groundwater and soil in their Amazon home.

"There's no doubt now that we've won this long legal battle," said Pablo Fajardo, the plaintiffs' lawyer.

But the ruling is largely symbolic as Chevron no longer operates in the South American country. That means Ecuador's g...