(S (S (BASENP (NNP Newmont) (NNP Mining) (NNS officials)) (VP (VP (VBP have) (VP (VP (VBN blamed) (BASENP (DT the) (NNP June) (NN 2000) (NN mercury) (NN spill))) (PP (IN on) (BASENP (DT a) (NN contractor))))) (CONJP (COMMA ,) (CC and)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN lost) (NP (BASENP (DT the) (NN battle)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB keep) (S (BASENP (DT the) (NN case)) (PP (IN out) (PP (IN of) (BASENP (DT the) (JJ American) (NN court) (NN system)))))))))))))) (PERIOD .))