Quotable

"(The suits) are not appropriate for US courts and should be dismissed."

A statement by United States-based energy giant ConocoPhillips. Attorneys from three US law firms, acting on behalf of 30 fishermen in East China's Shandong province, filed a lawsuit against the company in the Southern District Court of Texas on Monday. Another 470 Chinese fishermen have also signed contracts with the law firms to take legal action. ConocoPhillips said on Wednesday it had not received official notice of the lawsuits.