Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.

*111Petitioners, a group of Nigerian nationals residing in the United States, filed suit in federal court against certain *112Dutch, British, and Nigerian corporations. Petitioners sued under the Alien Tort Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1350, alleging that the corporations aided and abetted the Nigerian Government in committing violations of the law of nations in Nigeria. The question presented is whether and under what circumstances *113courts may recognize a cause of action under the Alien Tort Statute, for violations of the law of nations occurring within the territory of a sovereign other than the United…