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THE ALIEN TORT CLAIMS ACT: HUMAN
RIGHTS TOOL OR
THREAT TO BUSINESS?
The John Joseph
Moakley Archive and Institute at
Suffolk University
Law School
John
Joseph Moakley Archives & Institute
This Guide attempts to provide information on the Alien Tort Claims Act.
Included
are books, journal articles,
U.S. legislative materials, cases, and Web sites about the Alien Tort Claims Act.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Books
Journals
& Articles
U.S. Legislative
Materials
Cases
Internet
Sites
BOOKS
Hufbauer, Gary Clyde, Mitrokostas, Nicholas K. Awakening monster : The
Alien Tort Statute of 1789 . Washington, DC : Institute for International
Economics, 2003.
Steinhardt, Ralph G. and D'Amato, Anthony. The Alien Tort Claims Act
: An Analytical Anthology. Ardsley, N.Y. : Transnational Publishers, 1999.
Stephens, Beth and Ratner, Michael. International Human Rights Litigation
in U.S. Courts . Irvington-on-Hudson, N.Y. : Transnational Publishers,
1996.
JOURNALS & ARTICLES
Citations to articles about
the Alien Tort Claims Act can be found by searching on, among others,
Westlaw, Lexis, Legaltrac and Wilson's Index to Legal Periodical databases.
Alien Tort Suits a Concern for Big Business. International Petroleum
Finance (June 4, 2003).
Belgore, Y Forum non conveniens in England and USA for litigation against
oil multinationals Oil, Gas & Energy Law Intelligence, Vol. 1, Issue 1,
January 2003. http://www.gasandoil.com/ogel/ Subscription required.
Collingsworth, Terry, Work in the 21st Century -- A Look at the Contemporary
Labor Movement: Separating Fact from Fiction in the Debate over Application
of The Alien Tort Claims Act to Violations of Fundamental Human Rights
by Corporations. 37 U.S.F.L. Rev. 563, 2003.
Controversy Rises Over US Tort Law Amid Unocal Myanmar Hearing. International
Oil Daily (June 18, 2003).
Dodge, William S, The Constitutionality of the Alien Tort Statute: Some
Observations on Text and Context Winter. 42 Va. J. Int'l L. 687, 2002.
Ethical Investment; Becoming Model Citizens. Petroleum Economist 28
(March 18, 2003).
Fletcher, Sam, US companies run governance risks in some countries.
Oil & Gas Journal 27 (August 4, 2003). Oil & Gas Journal
Heil, Jennifer L, African Private Security Companies and the Alien Tort
Claims Act: Could Multinational Oil and Mining Companies Be Liable? 22
NW. J. INT'L L. & BUS. 291, 2002.
Pagnattaro, Marissa Anne, Enforcing International Labor Standards: The
Potential of the Alien Tort Claims Act. 37 Vand. J. Transnat'l L. 203,
2004.
Pettyjohn, Michael Dwayne, Comment: "Bring Me Your Tired, Your Poor,
Your Egregious Torts Yearning To See Green:" The Alien Tort Statute. 10
Tulsa J. Comp. & Int'l L. 513, 2003.
Paust, Jordan J, Human Rights Responsibilities of Private Corporations,
35 Vand. J. Tansnat'l L 801, 2002.
http://law.vanderbilt.edu/journal/35-03/PAUST7.pdf
Shaw, Coourtney, Uncertain Justice: Liability of Multinationals Under
the Alien Tort Claims Act 54 Stan. L. Rev. 1359, 2002.
Schrage, Elliot J. Judging Corporate Accountability in the Global Economy.
42 Colum. J. Transnat'l L. 153, 2003.
Short, Aric K. Is the Alien Tort Statute Sacrosanct? Retaining Forum
Non Conveniens in Human Rights Litigation. 33 N.Y.U. J. INT'L Law & Politics
1001, 2001.
Stephens, Beth, Individuals Enforcing International Human Rights Law:
The Comparative and Historical Context . 52 DePaul Law Review 433, 2002.
Stephens, Beth,Accountability Without Hypocrisy: Consistent Standards,
Honest History, . 36 New Eng. L. Rev. 919, 2002.
Stephens, Beth,Translating Filártiga: A Comparative and International
Law Analysis Of Domestic Remedies For International Human Rights Violations.
27 Yale J. Int'l L. 1, 2002.
Stephens, Beth,The Amorality of Profit: Transnational Corporations and
Human Rights . 20 Berkeley J. Int'l L. 45, 2002.
Stephens, Beth,Taking Pride in International Human Rights Litigation
. 2 Chi. J. Int'l L. 485, 2001.
Stephens, Beth,Corporate Liability: Enforcing Human Rights Through Domestic
Litigation. 24 Hastings Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 401, 2001.
Stephens, Beth, Federalism and Foreign Affairs: Congress' Power to "Define
and Punish Offenses Against the Law of Nations. 42 Wm. & Mary L. Rev.
447, 2000.
Stephens, Beth, Human Rights Accountability: Congress, Federalism and
International Law. 6 ILSA J. Int'l & Comp. L. 277, 2000.
Tyz, Ryan A,Searching for a Corporate Liability Standard Under the Alien
Tort Claims Act in Doe v. Unocal. 82 Or. L. Rev. 559, 2003.
U.S. LEGISLATIVE MATERIALS
Some citations to legislative
materials on the Alien Tort Claims Act have been provided. Some of these
materials are available in the Moakley Law Library or accessible through
the Internet.
Alien's Action for Tort, 28 USCS § 1350 (2004).
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+28USC1350
CASES
Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc. 945 F. Supp. 625 (S.D.N.Y. Nov 12, 1996)
Summary: Residents of region of Ecuador brought class action against American
oil company for environmental and personal injuries that allegedly resulted
from company's exploitation of region's oil fields, and residents of Peru
living downstream from that region brought class action asserting similar
injuries resulting from these activities. By http://www.earthrights.org
http://www.texaco.com/sitelets/ecuador/docs/aquinda_v_texaco.pdf
1996 decison
Aquinda v. Texaco, Inc., 175 F.R.D. 50 (S.D.N.Y. Aug 12, 1997)
Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc., 2000 WL 122143 (S.D.N.Y. Jan 31, 2000)
Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc., 142 F.Supp.2d 534 (S.D.N.Y. May 30, 2001)
Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc., 303 F.3d 470 (2nd Cir.(N.Y.) Aug 16, 2002)
Miscellaneous Articles & Websites about Aguinda v.
Texaco, Inc.
http://www.texacorainforest.com/index3.html
http://www.earthrights.org/content/view/231/56/
http://www.texaco.com/sitelets/ecuador/docs/aquinda_v_texaco.pdf
http://www.texaco.com/sitelets/ecuador/docs/aquinda_v_texaco_d.pdf
http://www.amazonwatch.org/amazon/EC/toxico/index.php?page_number=4
http://www.chevrontexaco.com/news/press/2002/2002-08-19_1.asp
Arias v. Dyncorp
Summary: A group of Ecuadoran farmers filed
suit against DynCorp charging the company
with illegally spraying a
toxic fumigant over the Colombian border into Ecuador, causing serious
health effects, crop and property damage, and death.
By http://www.earthrights.org
http://www.accionecologica.org/descargas/areas/fumigaciones_plancolombia/documentos/
docu/PDF/ Peticiones%20de%20abogado%20a%20Rand%20Beers%20-Ingles.pdf
Notice of Deposition and Subpoena English
http://www.accionecologica.org/descargas/areas/fumigaciones_plancolombia/documentos/
docu/PDF/ 04-Peticiones%20de%20abogado%20a%20Rand%20Beers-espa%F1ol.pdf
Notice of Deposition and Subpoena Spanish
http://www.laborrights.org/projects/corporate/dyncorp/dyncorpcomplaint.doc
Complaint
http://www.drugwar.com/pDyncorpMotionToDismiss.shtm
Motion to Dismiss
Bano v. Union Carbide Corp. 2000 WL 1225789, S.D.N.Y., Aug 28,
2000 ; 273 F.3d 120, 2nd Cir.(N.Y.), Nov 15, 2001 ; 2003 WL 1344884, S.D.N.Y.,
Mar 18, 2003 ; 361 F.3d 696, 2nd Cir.(N.Y.), Mar 17, 2004.
Summary: Victims of toxic gas disaster at
chemical plant in India, their next-of-kin, and groups representing
victims, brought suit against American chemical company and its former
chief executive officer (CEO). Plaintiffs alleged that defendants' conduct
leading up to the disaster violated various norms of international law,
and sought relief under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA).
By http://www.earthrights.org
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&case=/data2/circs/2nd/
009250.html
November 15, 2001 Opinion.
http://www.elaw.org/resources/text.asp?ID=1746
September 13, 2003 Opinion.
US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit March 17, 2004.
Bowoto v. Chevron 2004 WL 602774 (N.D.Cal., 2004)
Summary: In May of 1999, victims of gross
human rights abuses associated with Chevron's
oil production activities
in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria filed suit against Chevron in
federal court in San Francisco.
The case is based on two incidents: the shooting of peaceful protestors
at Chevron's Parabe offshore platform and the destruction of two villages
by soldiers in Chevron helicopters and boats. It was filed under the
Alien Tort Claims Act, which permits suits in U.S. courts against individuals
or corporations that commit international human rights violations anywhere
in the world, if that person or corporation resides in or visits the
United States. By http://www.earthrights.org
http://www.ccrny.org/v2/legal/corporate_accountability/corporateArticle.asp?
ObjID=4rj5rmLv5U&Content=41
Synopsis by the Center for Constitutional Rights
http://www.earthrights.org/content/view/211/56/
Synopsis & Court Documents Available by http://www.earthrights.org
Doe v. ExxonMobil
Summary: On June 20, 2001, an ATCA claim
was filed in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia,
No. 01-1357 CIV, on behalf of 11 villagers from Aceh, Indonesia who
were victims of human rights abuses by Exxon Mobil's security forces.
The general theory of the case is that Exxon Mobil knowingly employed
brutal military troops to protect its operations, and the company aided
and abetted the human rights violations through financial and other
material support to the security forces. In addition, the case alleges
that the security forces are either employees or agents of Exxon Mobil,
and thus Exxon Mobil is liable for their actions. By http://www.earthrights.org
http://www.globalpolicy.org/wtc/analysis/2002/1000exxon.htm
Article by Global Policy Forum
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/workers_rights/wr_indonesia/wr_indonesia.htm
Article by Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/06/exxonltr061802.htm
Human Rights Watch letter to State Department Legal Advisor Taft, June
18, 2002
Flores v. Southern Peru Copper Corp. 203 F.R.D. 92, S.D.N.Y., Apr
19, 2001 ; 2001 WL 1658213, S.D.N.Y., Dec 27, 2001 ; 2002 WL 221608, S.D.N.Y.,
Feb 13, 2002 ; 253 F.Supp.2d 510, S.D.N.Y., Jul 16, 2002 ; 343 F.3d 140,
2nd Cir., Aug 29, 2003.
Summary: Poor Peru residents brought personal
injury claims against American company, alleging that environmental
pollution from company's Peru mining operations caused their asthma
and lung disease, and asserting federal jurisdiction under Alien Tort
Claims Act (ATCA).
By http://www.earthrights.org
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/2nd/029008pv2.pdf
Argued April 15, 2003.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/2nd/029008p.pdf
No. 029008p - August 29, 2003.
http://www.earthrights.org/files/Legal%20Docs/Amicus%20Briefs/spcc.doc
Amici Curiae Brief
Jama v. U.S. I.N.S 22 F.Supp.2d 353 (1998)
Summary: Alien asylum seekers sued the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS), INS officials, contractor and contractors employees for
abuse allegedly suffered while detained in contractor's facility under
contract with the INS.
By http://www.earthrights.org
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jksonc/docs/jama-22FSupp2d353.html
1998 Decision
Sinaltrainal v. Coca-Cola 256 F.Supp.2d 1345 (S.D.Fla. Mar 28,
2003) ; 2003 WL 1846195 (S.D.Fla. Mar 31, 2003)
Summary: Plaintiffs are Sinaltrainal, and
five individuals who have been murdered, tortured, and/or unlawfully
detained. They are seeking to hold Coca-Cola, and two of its Colombian
bottlers liable for using paramilitaries to engage in anti-union violence.
This case also presents the issue of corporate liability for acts of
subsidiaries or agents under the ATCA. By http://www.earthrights.org
Doe v. Unocal Corp 963 F.Supp. 880, C.D.Cal., Mar 25, 1997;
27 F.Supp.2d 1174, C.D.Cal., Nov 18, 1998; 67 F.Supp.2d 1140, C.D.Cal.,
Aug 05, 1999; 110 F.Supp.2d 1294, C.D.Cal., Aug 31, 2000 ; 248 F.3d
915, 9th Cir.(Cal.), Apr 27, 2001; 2002 WL 31063976, 9th Cir.(Cal.),
Sep 18, 2002; 2003 WL 359787, 9th Cir., Feb 14, 2003.
Summary: The first ATCA case brought
against a corporate defendant. Burmese villagers brought this action
against a California oil company for international human rights violations
perpetrated by the Burmese military junta. The plaintiffs' allege that
the violations were committed in furtherance and for the benefit of
Unocal's pipeline project, in Burma, pursuant
to a joint venture-type relationship
between Unocal and the Burmese military dictatorship.
In a precedent-setting decision,
the Ninth Circuit most recently held that Unocal could be
held liable for aiding and
abetting the Burmese military's human rights violations.
By http://www.earthrights.org
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diana/unocal/31198-1.htm
RE: Motion to Dismiss, Order of March 25, 1997. By Project Diana.
http://www.elaw.org/assets/pdf/Unocal.case.pdf
2001 Opinion by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
http://www.earthrights.org/content/view/1/25/
Synopsis & Court Documents by http://www.earthrights.org
Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain 519 U.S. 1006, Dec 02, 1996 ; 124 S.Ct.
807, Dec 01, 2003 ; 72 USLW 3486, Jan 26, 2004 ; 72 USLW 3597, Mar 19,
2004.
http://www.nam.org/s_nam/bin.asp?CID=200716&DID=228005&DOC=FILE.PDF
Brief for the National Association of Manufacturers As Amicus Curiae in
Support of Reversal, Jan 23, 2004.
http://www.uschamber.com/NR/rdonlyres/esnzotkr5ukbjxg62oluauhesnr7uu65xlds
2pwcoloib7talba3w42rvxpkgthqwbxhapdvvxwjlg/SosavAlvarezMachainetal.pdf
Brief for the National Trade Council, USA Engage, the National Association
of Manufacturers, the Chamber of Commerce of the USA and the US Council
of International Business as Amici Curiae in Support of the Petitioner,
October 6, 2003.
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/international_justice/w_context/ATCA_Sosa_
amicus100703.pdf
US Court of Appeals for 9th Circuit No. 03-339 Amici Curiae from the Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights and the Rutherford Institute.
http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/supreme_court/briefs/03-724/03-724.mer.ami.intatprofs.pdf
Brief of Amici Curiae National & Foreign Legal Scholars in Support
of Respondents.
http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/briefs/2003/3mer/2mer/2003-0339.mer.aa.html
Brief for the U.S. as Respondent Supporting Petitioner, No. 03-339 in
US Supreme Court.
http://www.aclu.org/court/court.cfm?ID=15148&c=261
ACLU Brief for the Respondent in Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, March 2, 2004.
http://washingtonpost.findlaw.com/supreme_court/docket/2003/march.html
Look under Tuesday, March 30th 2004 on the Washington Posts' US Supreme
Court Docket decisions, briefs, laws included.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/03-339.htm
Time line Sept. 2003 - March 2004.
Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. 226 F.3d 88, 2nd Cir.(N.Y.),
Sep 14, 2000 ; 532 U.S. 941, Mar 26, 2001 ; 2002 WL 319887, S.D.N.Y.,
Feb 28, 2002.
Summary: Nigerian émigrés sued two foreign
holding companies, one incorporated in the Netherlands and one incorporated
in the United Kingdom, under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and other
laws, alleging that companies participated in human rights violations
against them in retaliation
for their political opposition to companies' oil exploration activities
in Nigeria. The case revolves
around the murder, by hanging, of Nigerian activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa
in November of 1995, the torture and detention of his brother, and the
shooting of a woman peacefully
protesting Shell's planned pipeline in Nigeria.
By http://www.earthrights.org
http://www.earthrights.org/content/view/205/56/
By Earthrights International: synopsis of the case along with court documents.
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Issues/Abuses/Deathpenalty?types=Lawsuits%2520%2526%
2520regulatory%2520action
News & articles from Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.
OTHER SITES
http://www.usaengage.org/legislative/2003/alientort/curtis_bradley_clj.html
The Costs of International Human Rights Litigation by Curtis A. Bradley,
Chicago Journal of International Law, Fall 2001. By USA Engage.
http://www.nftc.org/default/usa%20engage/ATS%20-%20An%20Emerging%20Threat%20to%20National%20Security.pdf
Alien Tort Statute: An Emerging Threat to National Security by Captain
Mark E. Rosen, JAGC US Navy (Ret)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/justice/law_background_torture4.html
Justice & the Generals by PBS.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/atca/atcaindx.htm
Articles & Analysis by the globalpolicyforum.org.
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/alientort.html
Global Business v. Global Justice by Bill Moyers' NOW.
If you have any questions, comments
or suggestions, please email:
Lusiella Fazzino , Reference/
Electronic Services Librarian.
Last modified: June 26, 2006.
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