BRASILIA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's federal and state governments plan to sue the owners of the Samarco iron ore miner for 20 billion reais ($5.24 billion)in damages caused by the burst of a tailings pond dam, Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira told reporters on Friday.
Samarco is a joint venture between the world's largest mining company, BHP Billiton Ltd BHP.AX BHP.N BLT.L , and the biggest iron ore miner, Vale SA VALE5.SA VALE.N . ($1 = 3.8181 Brazilian reais)