Wednesday, June 30, 2004
U.S. Alien Tort Claims Act
I'm usually aghast at how litigious our society has become, but in the case of Abu Ghraib (and maybe Gitmo) I think damages could be in order:
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that foreigners have only a limited right to use an obscure U.S. law to sue in America over alleged human rights abuses. However, that decision still left open the possibility of lawsuits over inmate mistreatment in Iraq and other claims.
(...)
But while the decision limits suits under that law, Paul Hoffman, the attorney for Alvarez, said: "The limit is not that much of a limit. The community of people who have been involved in bringing Alien Tort Claims Act cases are breaking out champagne bottles over this decision."...
CC: Baghdad Burning
| Permalink Here
I'm usually aghast at how litigious our society has become, but in the case of Abu Ghraib (and maybe Gitmo) I think damages could be in order:
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that foreigners have only a limited right to use an obscure U.S. law to sue in America over alleged human rights abuses. However, that decision still left open the possibility of lawsuits over inmate mistreatment in Iraq and other claims.
(...)
But while the decision limits suits under that law, Paul Hoffman, the attorney for Alvarez, said: "The limit is not that much of a limit. The community of people who have been involved in bringing Alien Tort Claims Act cases are breaking out champagne bottles over this decision."...
CC: Baghdad Burning
| Permalink Here
