Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.

Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. is a 2013 Supreme Court case addressing whether U.S. courts can hear human rights lawsuits against foreign corporations for crimes committed abroad. The plaintiff, Kiobel, accused Shell Oil of aiding the Nigerian government in human rights abuses. The Court ruled that the Alien Tort Statute does not generally apply to foreign corporations for actions outside U.S. territory, emphasizing a presumption against extraterritorial jurisdiction. This decision limited the ability of foreign victims to seek justice in U.S. courts for violations occurring abroad.