Supreme Court to decide if corporations can be sued for human rights abuses

[Justice wanted]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/02/24/supreme-court-to-decide-if-corporations-can-be-sued-for-human-rights-abuses/


WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court will weigh next week whether corporations can be sued in the United States for suspected complicity in human rights abuses abroad, in a case being closely watched by businesses concerned about long and costly litigation.

The high court on Tuesday will consider the reach of a 1789 U.S. law that had been largely dormant until 1980, when human rights lawyers started using it, at first to sue foreign government officials. Then, over the next 20 years, the lawyers used the law to target multinational corporations.

The case before the court pits the Obama administration and human rights advocates against large companies and foreign governments over allegations that Royal Dutch Shell Plc helped Nigeria crush oil exploration protests in the 1990s.

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This is going to be VERY interesting Since Citizens United case last year gave corporations "free speech"=money crap. Now will the Roberts court tell corporations that THEY must be held accountable like a PERSON?

Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't Alito and Thomas spoken at ALEC events? How will the justices ties to corporations play into factor on this case?

[alphafemale]

1. If they're a person can we sentence them to death? nt

[hlthe2b]

2. I think anyone holding out hope SCOTUS will do the right thing....

might want to shy away from any expensive bets for a while.... sigh...

[orpupilofnature57]

3. They'll do the same thing , Sell us.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. This court always rules for the large institutions over the individual

and I have no hope that this decision will be any different.


I would love to be surprised but I am not hopeful.

[Ship of Fools]

5. Not holding breath for positive outcome here.