Alien Tort Statute -- 2016



Nestle USA, Inc. v. Doe   (U.S. Supreme Court)

Validity of suit under Alien Tort Statute

The NAM filed an amicus brief supporting Nestle USA and urging the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the reach of the Alien Tort Statute. This appeal followed a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision that split with other federal courts of appeals on three legal issues: whether U.S. courts should entertain extraterritorial litigation, whether there is a well-defined consensus that corporations can be sued for violations of the Law of Nations; and the extent of knowledge or intent that a business must have to be liable for the acts of others. The NAM’s brief argued that the decision below 1) ignores a prior Supreme Court ruling; 2) invites international friction by expanding the scope of the Alien Tort Statue; and 3) is inconsistent with generally accepted principles of international law on intentional wrongdoing and corporate liability. Unfortunately, the Court denied the petition for review.