Today, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in one case of interest to the business community:

Alien Tort Statute—Application to Corporations

Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC, No. 16-499

The Alien Tort Statute provides that United States district courts "shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action by an alien for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States." In Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, the Supreme Court granted certiorari to decide whether the statute provides for jurisdiction for claims against corporate defendants. But the Kiobel Court did not reach the issue, deciding instead that the claims failed under the presumption against extraterritorial application of U.S. law. The Supreme Court today granted certiorari to address the question left unanswered by Kiobel: whether the Alien Tort Statute provides jurisdiction for claims against corporate defendants.

Please visit us at appellate.net

Visit us at mayerbrown.com

Mayer Brown is a global legal services provider comprising legal practices that are separate entities (the "Mayer Brown Practices"). The Mayer Brown Practices are: Mayer Brown LLP and Mayer Brown Europe – Brussels LLP, both limited liability partnerships established in Illinois USA; Mayer Brown International LLP, a limited liability partnership incorporated in England and Wales (authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and registered in England and Wales number OC 303359); Mayer Brown, a SELAS established in France; Mayer Brown JSM, a Hong Kong partnership and its associated entities in Asia; and Tauil & Chequer Advogados, a Brazilian law partnership with which Mayer Brown is associated. "Mayer Brown" and the Mayer Brown logo are the trademarks of the Mayer Brown Practices in their respective jurisdictions.

© Copyright 2017. The Mayer Brown Practices. All rights reserved.

This Mayer Brown article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.