High Court OKs Apartheid Cases

Claims against big corporations can proceed in federal court
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted May 12, 2008 7:14 PM CDT
High Court OKs Apartheid Cases
A statue of Nelson Mandela is seen after it was unveiled in Parliament Square, London.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Apartheid victims can sue corporations that dealt with South Africa’s government before 1995, the Supreme Court said today. But the judges did not render a decision, as four of the nine recused themselves, likely due to personal stock holdings. The claims seek $400 billion from companies including Exxon, Citigroup, and GM.

The White House had urged the high court to quash the case. Said a South African lawyer, “It certainly shows that there is absolute merit in the claims that were filed against the corporations and we now look forward to this matter unfolding further.” (More South Africa stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X