Important new case on the Alien Tort Statute

About a week ago, the Washington, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that recognizes the right of Indonesian villagers to sue Exxon Mobil for alleged killings and torture committed by Indonesian soldiers guarding the company’s natural-gas operations in the country’s Aceh province.  The decision deepens a circuit split about whether companies can be sued under the Alien Tort Statute.

For more on the recent decision go to the Wall Street Journal law blog, which also provides links to more information on the issue.

For more on the issue of whether the ATS should allow claims against private entities go to my section on the Alient Tort Statute and scroll down. 

This is a very interesting issue that I think will inevitably make its way to the US Supreme Court some time soon.