Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC

U.S. Supreme Court

Question(s) Presented

Whether the Alien Tort Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1350, categorically forecloses corporate liability.

Tab Group

Merits Stage

Supreme Court issues decision narrowing the Alien Tort Statute

April 24, 2018

The Supreme Court held by a vote of 5-4 that the Alien Tort Statute (“ATS”) does not allow plaintiffs to sue foreign corporations, as opposed to individuals, in U.S. Courts for violations of international law.

U.S. Chamber urges U.S. Supreme Court to reject corporate liability under Alien Tort Statute

June 27, 2017

The Chamber, along with the National Foreign Trade Council, USA*Engage, United States Council for International Business, and American Petroleum Institute, filed an amicus brief on the merits arguing that the Supreme Court should not imply a federal common law action to enforce international human-rights norms against corporate entities.

Anton Metlitsky, Jonathan D. Hacker, and Samantha M. Goldstein of O'Melveny & Myers LLP served as co-counsel for the amici.