U.S. Supreme Court: Can Multinationals Be Sued for Crimes?

Barinem Kiobel was executed on November 10, 1995 by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha of Nigeria. Almost 16 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil multinational, can be held responsible for his death.

The lawsuit has been brought under the Alien Tort Claims Act of 1789 which allows lawsuits against individuals in U.S. courts for violations of international law – but what the court will decide is if this law applies to corporations. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiff – his widow Esther – it could represent a watershed in holding corporations accountable for crimes around the world.

 

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