News & Updates

Organizations that have traditionally sought relief for victims of human rights and environmental abuses from around the world in U.S. courts through the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) are well suited to play a pivotal role in training human rights lawyers and non-profit organizations abroad. Such organizations would be useful in supporting local efforts to seek relief against U.S. corporations in countries where violations have been originally committed. Leading ATS organizations such as IRAdvocates have the expertise, institutional knowledge, and skills to provide trainings abroad on topics including fact gathering, evidence, and procedure – all of which may be applied to different substantive areas, as well as more discrete cases, in various countries’ legal systems. By building these litigation skillsets, local lawyers can be empowered to hold human rights abusers accountable.

Last Tuesday October 15th, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Daimler Chrysler AG v. Bauman case. This article gives a background of the case and a summary of oral arguments. Appearing before the court were Thomas H. Dupree, Jr. for petitioner, DaimlerChrysler; and Edwin S. Kneedler, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice for United States, as amicus curiae.; and Kevin Russell for respondents. In 2004, the case was brought by IRAdvocates who also joined Russell on the brief submitted to the Supreme Court.

Written by Brittany West, Washington College of Law JD candidate, 2014

Family members of Colombian victims of military and paramilitary violence use public displays in memory of their loved ones.