Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - Corporate Legal Accountability Project

Case profiles – Organised by country where alleged harm occurredUpdated 18 Sep 2014

KEY:Posted case profileCase profile in preparationCases under considerationAFRICALawsuit Country where alleged abuse

took placeCountry where lawsuit filed

Lawsuit against Nestlé, Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland (re Côte d'Ivoire)[French translation available]

Côte d’Ivoire USA

Lawsuits against Trafigura (re Côte d'Ivoire) [French translation available]

Côte d’Ivoire Côte d’Ivoire, UK, Netherlands

Lawsuit against Anvil Mining (re Democratic Republic of Congo)[French translation available]

DRC DRC, Australia, Canada

Investigation against Argor-Heraeus (re alleged trade in pillaged gold from Dem. Rep. of Congo)[French translation available]

DRC Switzerland

Lawsuit against Danzer (criminal complaint re complicity in abuses committed against DRC forest community)[French translation available]

DRC Germany

Lawsuit against COMLOG (re Gabon)[French translation available]

Gabon France

Lawsuit against DLH (re Liberian civil war)

Liberia France

Lawsuit against Firestone (re Liberia)

Liberia USA

1

Lawsuit against Red Lands Roses (re Kenyan workplace injury)

Kenya Kenya

Lawsuit against Kenya Pipeline Company (re compensation for industrial accident)

Kenya Kenya

Lawsuit against Paladin Energy (re uranium mining in Malawi)

Malawi Malawi

Lawsuit against German cos. (by Hereros)

Namibia USA

Lawsuit against Areva (re alleged Tuareg discrimination)[French translation available]

Niger France

Lawsuit against Chevron (re Nigeria)

Nigeria USA

Gas flaring lawsuit (re oil companies in Nigeria)

Nigeria Nigeria

Lawsuits against Pfizer (re Nigeria)

Nigeria Nigeria, USA

Lawsuits against Shell (re Nigeria – Kiobel & Wiwa) [Chinese, French, Spanish & Russian translations available]

Nigeria USA

Lawsuit against Shell (re oil pollution in Nigeria)

Nigeria Netherlands

Lawsuit against Shell (re oil spills & Bodo community in Nigeria)

Nigeria UK

Lawsuit against AngloGold Ashanti (re silicosis in So. Africa) [Russian translation available]

South Africa South Africa

Lawsuit against AngloPlatinum (re population displacement)

South Africa South Africa

Lawsuit against Apartheid reparations (re So. Africa)

South Africa USA

Lawsuits against Cape/Gencor (re So. Africa)

South Africa UK

2

Lawsuit against gold mining companies (re silicosis)

South Africa South Africa

Lawsuit against South African Airways (re HIV discrimination)

South Africa South Africa

Biwater-Tanzania arbitration

Tanzania ICSID

Lawsuit against African Barrick Gold (re Tanzania)

Tanzania UK

Lawsuit against Thomson Safaris (re Maasai people)

Tanzania Tanzania

Homosexuals' lawsuit to prevent newspaper inciting violence (re Uganda)

Uganda Uganda

Kaweri Coffee (part of Neumann Gruppe) lawsuit (re forced evction in Uganda)

Uganda Germany

Lawsuit re HIV employment discrimination (illegal termination)

Kenya Kenya

Lawsuit against British American Tobacco (re marketing to minors)

Nigeria Nigeria

Lawsuit regarding Nigerian oil pollution

Nigeria ECOWAS

Lawsuit against Thor Chemicals (re workers suffering mercury poisoning)

South Africa UK

Lawsuit against Cuango Mining Society (re human rights abuses in diamond mining)

Angola Angola

Bushmen lawsuit (re displacement & diamond mining concessions granted to DeBeers)

Botswana Botswana

Lawsuit against East Africa Portal Cement (re forced labour allegations)

Kenya Kenya

Lawsuit against AngloAmerican (re former miners suffering from silicosis)

South Africa South Africa

Khulumani v Sasol South Africa South Africa

3

Lundin Petroleum (re prosecutor’s investigation into company’s involvement in Sudan)

Sudan Sweden

Lawsuit against 3 mining companies (re alleged water pollution and health consequences)

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe

ASIA/PACIFICLawsuit Country where alleged abuse

took placeCountry where lawsuit filed

Lawsuit against Auchan (re factory collapse in Bangladesh)[French translation available]

Bangladesh France

Lawsuit against Lidl (re working conditions in Bangladesh)

Bangladesh Germany

Lawsuit against Tazreen factory (re deaths due to fire)

Bangladesh Bangladesh

Lawsuit against Unocal (re Burma)

Burma USA

Lawsuit against Total in Belgium (re Burma)

Burma Belgium

Sre Ambel sugar plantation lawsuit (re forced displacement)

Cambodia Cambodia/UK

Lawsuit against ConocoPhillips (re oil pollution damage to local aquaculture farmers)

China China

Lawsuit against China Construction Bank [Chinese translation available]

China USA

Lawsuits against Cisco Systems (re China)[Chinese translation available]

China USA

Lawsuit against Luliang Chemical Industry & Peace Technology lawsuit (re heavy metal pollution in China)

China China

4

Lawsuit against Nokia (re HBV discrimination in China)

China China

Lawsuit against Sanlu executives re melamine tainted milk[Chinese translation available]

China China

Lawsuit against Yahoo! (re China)[Chinese translation available]

China USA

Lawsuit against Coca-Cola (re India)

India India

Lawsuit against Novartis (re India patent law & access to medicines)

India India

Lawsuit against Union Carbide/Dow (re Bhopal) [Russian translation available]

India USA, India

Lawsuit against Vedanta Resources (re Dongria Kondh in Orissa) [Spanish translation available]

India India

Lawsuit against adidas (re PT Kizone factory closure)

Indonesia USA

Lawsuit against ExxonMobil (re Aceh)

Indonesia USA

Lawsuits against Freeport-McMoRan (re West Papua)

Indonesia USA

Lawsuit against Chisso Corporation (re Minamata disease)

Japan Japan

Lawsuit against Nishimatsu Construction (re World War II forced labour)

Japan Japan

Myanmar Pongpipat lawsuit (re Heinda tin mine):

Myanmar Myanmar

Lawsuit against BHP (re Papua New Guinea)

Papua New Guinea Australia/ PNG

Lawsuit against Rio Tinto (re Papua New Guinea)

Papua New Guinea USA

5

Aerial spraying ban lawsuit (re banana companies in Philippines)

Philippines Philippines

Lawsuit against Baidu (re Internet censorship)

China USA

Hebei fishermen’s lawsuit re oil contamination

China China

Lawsuit against Juren Academy (re gender discrimination in China)

China China

Lawsuit against Lapindo Brantas (re mud volcano)

Indonesia Indonesia

Lawsuit against Newmont Mining (re mining tailings water pollution)

Indonesia Indonesia

Penan people of Sarawak lawsuit (re land rights, logging concessions)

Malaysia Malaysia

Lawsuit against Marcopper (re alleged dumping toxic tailings into Mogpog River)

Philippines Philippines

Map Ta Phut lawsuit (re environmental contamination)

Thailand Thailand

Agent Orange litigation

Vietnam USA

Ship-breaking lawsuit (re toxic waste & ship-breaking yards)

Bangladesh Bangladesh

Lawsuit against Tesco Beijing (re sale of produce grown illegal pesticides)

China China

Lawsuit against Samsung (re alleged child labour)

China France

Lawsuit against Bayer (re attempt to limit marketing of generic drugs)

India India

Lawsuits re Canadian asbestos exported to India

India India

6

Public interest litigation re violation of labour rights in construction for Commonwealth Games

India India

Lawsuit against Freeport McMoRan (Aug 2009 & Mar 2010)

Indonesia Indonesia

Lawsuit against Japan Tobacco (re stronger public health warnings)

Japan Japan

Lawsuit against TEPCO & Japanese Government (re Fukushima)

Japan Japan

Lawsuit against Ramu nickel mine (re dumping tailings into Astrolabe Bay)

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea

Coastal village lawsuit against 3 mining firms seeking to end all extraction & exploration

Philippines Philippines

Lawsuit against Karnation Industries (re imprisonment of worker for exercising union rights)

Philippines Philippines

Workers’ compensation lawsuit against Samsung & S. Korean Gov’t re workers developing brain cancer (55 deaths)

South Korea South Korea

Lawsuit against Cutter (Bayer sub) (re sale of contaminated blood products to patients)

Taiwan/Hong Kong USA

Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand v. Mae Mo villagers

Thailand Thailand

EASTERN EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIALawsuit Country where alleged abuse

took placeCountry where lawsuit filed

Lawsuit against Indesit (re workplace death)

Poland Poland

Fadeyeva v Russia (re Severstal smelter) [Russian translation available]

Russia Russia, ECHR

7

Lawsuit against Oktzabrskaza Railroad (re sexual orientation discrimination)

Russia Russia

Lawsuit against Deno Gold Mining (re pollution & Shahumyan Region)

Armenia Armenia

Lawsuit against Deno Gold Mining (re employees suing for unpaid wages)

Armenia Armenia

Roma discrimination lawsuit

Bulgaria Bulgaria

Predatory lending/discrimination against Roma lawsuits

Czech Republic Czech Republic

Lawsuit against L-3 & MPRI (re Croatian Serbs & genocide during Balkan war)

Croatia USA

Lawsuit re environmental impact of paper mill on Lake Baikal

Russia Russia

Criminal investigation re Skochynsky coalmine accident

Ukraine Ukraine

Child labour in Uzbek cotton industry

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan/EU

Lawsuit against Betlis Tekstil (re alleged illegal dismissals after reporting health & safety concerns)

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan

LATIN AMERICALawsuit Country where alleged abuse

took placeCountry where lawsuit filed

Sweatshop labour lawsuit (re Bolivian migrant workers in Argentina) [Spanish translation available]

Argentina Argentina

Lawsuit against Daimler (re alleged complicity in abuses during “Dirty War”)[Spanish translation available]

Argentina USA, Argentina

Lawsuit regarding industrial pollution in Matanza-Riachuelo river basin [Spanish translation available]

Argentina Argentina

8

Lawsuit against Ford (re alleged complicity in abuses during “Dirty War”) [Spanish translation available]

Argentina Argentina

Lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories (re HIV/AIDS patent generic drug)

Brazil Brazil

Lawsuit against BASF, Shell (re plant environmental contamination)

Brazil Brazil

Lawsuit against Philip Morris Brasil, Souza Cruz (re tobacco health impacts)

Brazil Brazil

Lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories (re HIV/AIDS patent generic drug)

Brazil Brazil

Lawsuit against Agua Mineral Chusmiza (re indigenous water rights)[Spanish translation available]

Chile Chile

Lawsuit against BP (re Colombia) [Spanish translation available]

Colombia UK

Lawsuits against Chiquita (re Colombia) [Spanish translation available]

Colombia USA

Lawsuit against Coca-Cola (re Colombia) [Spanish translation available]

Colombia USA

Lawsuit against Drummond (re Colombia) [Spanish translation available]

Colombia USA

Lawsuit against Nestlé (re alleged complicity in trade unionist killing) [Spanish translation available]

Colombia Switzerland

Lawsuit against Occidental (re Colombia) [Spanish translation available]

Colombia USA

9

Lawsuit against Curaçao Drydock (re alleged use of forced labour)

Curaçao/Cuba USA

Lawsuit against Copper Mesa (re alleged complicity in abuses)[Spanish translation available]

Ecuador Canada

Lawsuit against DynCorp (re Colombia & Ecuador) [Spanish translation available]

Ecuador USA

Lawsuit against Texaco/Chevron (re Ecuador)[Spanish translation available]

Ecuador Ecuador, USA

Lawsuits against HudBay Minerals (re Guatemala)[Spanish & Russian translations available]

Guatemala Canada

Lawsuit against Tahoe Resources (re alleged violence at mine, filed with Ontario Securities Commission)[Spanish translation available]

Guatemala Canada

Lawsuit against Cambior (re Guyana)

Guyana Canada, Guyana

Lawsuit against Minera Majaz/ Monterrico Metals[Spanish translation available]

Peru Peru/ UK

Lawsuit against Botnia (re river pollution)

Argentina Argentina

Lawsuit against Ledesma (re complicity in humans rights violations during military dictatorship)

Argentina Argentina

Lawsuit against Celco (re river pollution)

Chile Chile

Class action lawsuit against Vicini Company (re Haitian sugar cane cutters)

Haiti/Dominican Rep. Dominican Rep.

10

Parota Dam (re environmental degradation)

Mexico Mexico

Lawsuit against Dole, Dow, Amvac (re pesticide harm)

Nicaragua USA

Lawsuit against Occidental Petroleum (re Achuar & oil pollution)

Peru USA

Lawsuit against Uranios del Sur (re environmental contamination from uranium mining)

Argentina Argentina

Lawsuit against Nuestra Huella (re alleged forced child labour)

Argentina Argentina

Lawsuit against Rural Power (re allegations of forced labour)

Argentina Argentina

Supreme Court order banning certain agrochemical produced by Monsanto

Argentina Argentina

Belo Monte dam & indigenous peoples’ rights

Brazil Brazil

Lawsuit against Goldcorp (re suspension of project due to lack of prior consultation with indigenous peoples)

Chile Chile

Lawsuit against Promel (re toxic waste)

Chile Chile

Lawsuit against Dole (re alleged payments to paramilitary organizations)

Colombia USA

Lawsuit against Muriel Mining (re Constitutional Court & failure to consult indigenous communities)

Colombia Colombia

Lawsuit against Pacific Rubiales (re denial of freedom of association)

Colombia Canada

Lawsuit against Infinito Gold (C.R. Supreme Court upholds cancellation of Crucitas mining permits)

Costa Rica Costa Rica

11

Lawsuit against Coca-Cola & Incasa (re anti-union violence)

Guatemala USA

Gas del Caribe inquiry (re environmental contamination)

Honduras Inter-Am. Human Rts Comm’n

Lawsuit against Pemex and Black & Veatch (re Atoyac River pollution)

Mexico Mexico

Lawsuit against Grupo Mexico (re Pasta de Conchos mining disaster)

Mexico USA

Lawsuit against Excellon Resources (re land dispute)

Mexico Mexico

Lawsuit against Doe Run

Peru Peru

Lawsuit against Repsol, Hunt Oil (re lack of consultation w/ indigenous peoples)

Peru Peru

Lawsuit against Xstrata (re pollution impacting environmental health of Cusco)

Peru Peru

Saramaka People v. Suriname (re indigenous land rights and logging concessions)

Suriname IACHR

MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICALawsuit Country where alleged abuse

took placeCountry where lawsuit filed

Lawsuits against Blackwater USA (re 16 Sep 2007 Baghdad incident)

Iraq USA

Abu Ghraib lawsuits against CACI, Titan (now L-3)

Iraq USA

Lawsuit against KBR (re human trafficking in Iraq)

Iraq USA

Lawsuits against KBR (re alleged rapes in Iraq)

Iraq USA

Lawsuit against Amesys (re Libya)[French translation available]

Libya France

12

Lawsuit against Jeppesen (re extraordinary rendition flights)

Morocco, Egypt, Jordan USA

Lawsuit against Alstom & Veolia (re Jerusalem tram line)[French translation available]

Occupied Terr. France

Lawsuit against Qosmos (re Syria)[French translation available]

Syria France

Lawsuit against Erinys (re Iraq)

Iraq UK

Corrie v. Caterpillar Occupied Terr. USABil’in Village v. Green Park (re building on OPT)

Occupied Terr. Canada

Lawsuit against ArmorGroup (re crimes in Iraq)

Iraq Iraq

Lawsuit against Talkha Fertilizer (re environmental pollution)

Egypt Egypt

Lawsuit against Nokia Siemens (re Iran & internet censorship)

Iran USA

Lawsuit against Aegis Defense Services (re shooting of US soldier)

Iraq USA

Lawsuit against KBR (re health impacts of toxic burn bits)

Iraq USA

Lawsuit against RTI Int’l & Unity Resources (re civilian killing in Iraq)

Iraq USA

Lawsuit against Riwal (re involvement in building separation wall between Israel & Palestine & building settlements)

Israel/Palestine Netherlands

Lawsuit against Bank of China (re alleged financing of terrorist organizations)

Israel/Palestine USA

WESTERN EUROPELawsuit Country where alleged abuse

took placeCountry where lawsuit filed

Lawsuit against Eternit (re asbestos exposure in Italy)

Italy Italy

13

Lawsuit against Statoil (re Human Rights Advisor)

Norway USA

Lawsuit against IBM (Holocaust claim by Gypsies)

Germany Switzerland

Lawsuits against SNCF (re Holocaust)

France France, USA

Lawsuit against ThyssenKrupp execs (re worker deaths)

Italy Italy

Lawsuit against Cape (re liability of parent company for asbestos related disease)

UK UK

UNITED STATES & CANADALawsuit Country where alleged abuse

took placeCountry where lawsuit filed

Lawsuit against BP (re Alaska)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Coca-Cola (re racial discrimination in USA)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Esmor Correctional Services (conditions at INS detention centre)

USA USA

US Deepwater Horizon explosion & oil spill lawsuits

USA USA

Kivalina lawsuit (re global warming)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Mitsubishi (re sexual harassment in USA)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Nike (Kasky v Nike, re denial of labour abuses)

USA USA

Lawsuit against PA Child Care (re “kids for cash” scandal)

USA USA

Lawsuit against US apparel cos. (re Saipan)

USA (Comm. of N. Marianas Islands)

USA

Slavery reparations lawsuit (re USA)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Barrick Gold (re Western Shoshone tribes, USA)

USA USA

14

Lawsuit against Wal-Mart (re gender discrimination in USA)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Global Horizons (re human trafficking of Thai farmworkers)

USA/ Thailand USA

Lawsuit against Citigroup (re gender bias)

USA USA

Mossville, LA lawsuit (re dioxin poisoning)

USA Inter-American Commission for Human Rights

Lawsuit against Red Chris mining (re threat to Tahltan Nation)

Canada Canada

Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia (re logging concessions and indigenous peoples’ land rights)

Canada Canada

EPA action e-waste exporter to 3rd world

USA USA

Inupiat lawsuit (re water pollution)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Myriad Genetics (re challenge to patenting breast cancer gene)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Bloomberg (re pregnancy bias)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Starbucks (re anti-union activity)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Wells Fargo (re discrimination in sub-prime mortgages)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Sygenta (re allegedly toxic weed killer contaminating drinking water)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Lorillard Tobacco (re enticing black children to smoke in 1950s)

USA USA

Lawsuit against Star One Staffing (re trafficking of Philippine migrants)

USA USA

15