Supreme Court: US Courts Won't Be World Forum for Human Rights Abuses

In a unanimous decision, courts are limited to deciding on disputes on American soil

U.S. courts will not be the world forum for lawsuits brought by victims of human rights abuses abroad who seek damages from multinational corporations or deposed tyrants, the Supreme Court declared Wednesday.

In a decision welcomed by corporate leaders and decried by human rights activists, the justices said U.S. courts are limited mostly to deciding disputes over conduct that took place on American territory, not on foreign soil.