The lawsuit, now known as Balintulo v. Daimler, AG, et al., was originally filed in 2002 against 85 U.S. and European companies that had done business in South Africa prior to 1994. The case was dismissed in Federal District Court in 2005, but was sent back to that Court by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 2007. Since then the District Court has ruled that the case may go forward and the defendants have appealed to the Second Circuit to dismiss the case. This amicus brief is in support of that appeal.
This is one of several lawsuits brought under the alien tort statute that allege the conduct of lawful business in a country with a poor human rights record constitutes aiding and abetting violations of international law. The NFTC has urged the federal courts to dismiss these cases.
The amicus brief filed today cites the fact that both the U.S. and the South African governments have asked that the case be dismissed and concludes that where the executive branch determines that trade will promote the interests of the United States (and improve the lot of foreign citizens as well) courts must respect that determination by shutting down inconsistent litigation at the earliest opportunity.
For a full copy of the brief, please click here.
About USA*Engage
USA*Engage (www.usaengage.org) is a coalition of small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. Established in 1997 and organized under the National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org), USA*Engage leads a campaign to inform policy-makers, opinion-leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions, the importance of exports and overseas investment for American competitiveness and jobs, and the role of American companies in promoting human rights and democracy world wide.
About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
