Corporations and transnational human rights litigation
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Corporations and transnational human rights litigation
（Human rights law in perspective / general editor, Colin Harvey, v. 4）
Hart, 2004
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Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Since the mid-1980s,beginning with the unsuccessful Union Carbide litigation in the USA, litigants have been exploring ways of holding multinational corporations [MNCs] liable for offshore human rights abuses in the courts of the companies' home States. The highest profile cases have been the human rights claims brought against MNCs (such as Unocal, Shell, Rio Tinto, Coca Cola, and Talisman) under the Alien Tort Claims Act in the United States. Such claims also raise issues under customary international law (which may be directly applicable in US federal law) and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations [RICO] statute. Another legal front is found in the USA, England and Australia, where courts have become more willing to exercise jurisdiction over transnational common law tort claims against home corporations. Futhermore, a corporation's human rights practices were indirectly targeted under trade practices law in groundbreaking litigation in California against sportsgoods manufacturer Nike.
This new study examines these developments and the procedural arguments (eg regarding personal jurisdiction and especially forum non conveniens) which have been used to block litigation, as well as the principles which can be gleaned from cases which have settled. The analysis is important for human rights victims in order to know the boundaries of possible available legal redress. It is also important for MNCs, which must now take human rights into account in managing the legal risks (as well as moral and reputation risks) associated with offshore projects.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Alien Tort Claims Act
3 Other Jurisdictional Bases in the US
4 Procedural Obstacles in the US
5 A New Front: The Nike Case
6 Transnational Human Rights Litigation in Other Countries
7 Parent Corporation Liability in Transnational Human Rights Cases
8 Conclusion
by "Nielsen BookData"