This one doesn't seem very complicated to me. The US Attorney declined the case, so Chevron bought the court. As for the tiptoeing of the NY Times, that would

This one doesn't seem very complicated to me. The US Attorney declined the case, so Chevron bought the court. As for the tiptoeing of the NY Times, that would be because virtually every politician that Donziger might appeal to for intervention also either has worked for a law firm representing Chevron themselves, or has a family member working for a law firm representing Chevron.