United States Ninth Circuit

In this case brought under the Alien Tort Statute and California tort law by family members of three union leaders killed in Colombia by members of the 18th Brigade of the Colombian National Army, plaintiffs contend that defendant Occidental should be held liable as they provided funding to the 18th brigade, had operational control, and knew about the Brigade's various murders and human rights abuses. Dismissal is affirmed, where plaintiffs' claims are inextricably bound to the inherently political question of the propriety of the United States' decision to provide $99 million worth of training to the 18th Brigade at the same time and for the same purpose as Occidental allegedly providing $6.3 million.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/15/2014
• Published 12/15/2014

Judges

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel