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Human Rights Violations Suit Against Exxon Will Be Heard
A federal judge last month ruled that a suit alleging human-rights violations against Exxon can be heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. But until last week, that ruling had been under seal. The decision is a victory for the plaintiffs in a rare case that seeks to hold a U.S. company responsible for action rooted abroad. Eleven villagers from Aceh, Indonesia, say Exxon should be held liable for alleged violent crimes by Indonesian guards assigned to protect an Exxon facility. Judge Louis Oberdorfer ruled the court is the proper jurisdiction for the complaint…. Oberdorfer has yet to rule on a motion for summary judgment or set a trial date.