Kiobel and Others v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. and Others

Abstract

Jurisdiction — Extraterritoriality — United States domestic law — Alien Tort Statute 1789 — The law of nations — Causes of action — Application to violations of specific, universal and obligatory international norms only — Violation of safe conduct, infringements of rights of ambassadors, and piracy — Presumption against extraterritorial application of statutes — Rebuttal of presumption against extraterritorial application — Clear congressional intent for extraterritorial application required to rebut presumption — Whether generic terms such as “any” and “every” sufficient to connote intended extraterritorial application — Whether use of term “tort” and transitory tort doctrine rebutting presumption — Comity — Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain — Universal jurisdiction — Whether claims touching and concerning United States with sufficient force to displace presumption — Whether corporate presence alone sufficient — Circumstances for finding of jurisdiction

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Jurisdiction — Claims in courts of one State for alleged violations of international law in the territory of another State — Alien Tort Statute 1789 — The law of the United States