Today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) begins its fall session. On the docket is Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC, which is scheduled to be heard on October 11. The case will determine whether the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) can provide an avenue to deliver justice to victims of corporate harms. The ATS permits non-Americans to sue for international human rights abuses and is key to holding corporations accountable...

We cannot stand by as the Court, following in the footsteps of Citizens United, recognizes more and more corporate rights, without likewise acknowledging corporate responsibilities and choosing #PeopleOverProfits...

“Where corporations are involved in human rights abuses, they must be held accountable. To deny victims access to justice is unfair and results in corporate impunity,” said Amol Mehra, Executive Director of ICAR...

Katie Redford, ERI’s Co-Founder and Director, highlighted the case’s importance for the environment. “If corporations cannot be sued when they create widespread environmental damage, then it will be left to governments to finance the clean-up. It raises the question of what kind of society we want. Do we want to live in a world where corporations can get away with murder and destruction, while it is left to ordinary citizens to pick up the pieces?”