During a two week trial, a Birmingham [Alabama, USA] jury weighed charges that the local Drummond Coal Company bore responsibility for the murders of three union leaders who represented workers at its Colombian mine... The [union leaders'] widows lost their suit last week... [This and] other cases...rely on a law that dates back to 1789 known as the Alien Tort Claims Act [ATC]...[which] has been deployed by labor groups and NGOs trying to punish and modify the behavior of U.S. companies abroad. [also refers to lawsuits against Texaco (now Chevron), Chiquita]