Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. is a lawsuit brought against Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., Shell Transport & Trading Co., Plc, and its wholly owned subsidiary Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC). The suit was brought on behalf of the late Dr. Barinem Kiobel – an outspoken Ogoni leader and eleven other Nigerians from the Ogoni area of the Niger Delta. The putative class action sought damages and other relief for crimes against humanity, including torture and extrajudicial executions, and other international law violations committed with defendants' assistance and complicity between 1992 and 1995 against the Ogoni people.

 

The Supreme Court granted plaintiffs’ petition for certiorari on October 17, 2011. Petitioners' filed their brief on December 14, 2011 and a number of amicus briefs in support of Petitioners were subsequently filed on behalf of the Petitioners. Amici in support of Petitioners include the United States, international human rights organizations, and international law scholars. Respondents filed their opposition brief on January 27, 2012, and on February 3, 2012, numerous amicus briefs were filed in support of the Respondents.

 

Oral argument is scheduled for February 28th at 8:30 a.m.