Alien Tort Statute Claim Against Nestle Gets Boost From Supreme Court Ruling

Corporations can be found liable for claims initiated under the Alien Tort Statute, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held Dec. 19 (Doe v. Nestle USA, Inc., 2013 BL 352087, 9th Cir., No. 10-56739)

In a proposed class action, plaintiff individuals and Global Exchange sued defendants Nestle, Archer Daniels Midland Co., Cargill Inc. and Cargill Cocoa under the statute for aiding and abetting violations of international law.

According to the district court order dismissing plaintiffs’ complaint, 748 F. Supp. 2d 1057 (C.D. Cal. 2010), the individuals alleged “that they were forced to labor on cocoa ...