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71 Fla. L. Rev. Forum 1 (2019)
Will Capitalism Kill Compassion - An Analysis of the Future of Corporate Liability under the Alien Tort Statute

handle is hein.journals/flrf71 and id is 175 raw text is: 






  WILL CAPITALISM KILL COMPASSION?-AN ANALYSIS OF
  THE FUTURE OF CORPORATE LIABILITY UNDER THE ALIEN
                          TORT STATUTE

                          Dina H. Arouri*

                               Abstract
   This Note proposes that the Court erred in the recent decision, Jesner
v. Arab Bank, PLC, when it failed to adopt a standard that remained
faithful to Congress's intent at the inception of the Alien Tort Statute
(ATS): to remedy human rights violations while remaining relevant to the
global economy. In Jesner, the Court was asked to reassess whether the
ATS    categorically forecloses  corporate   liability. Although  the
controversy surrounding the jurisdictional reach of the ATS is well
placed, the statute has allowed for U.S. courts to fill the international void
for a forum that adjudicates human rights. This Note discusses why
corporations should be liable for human rights violations under the ATS.
   This Note begins by explaining the historical circumstances that
inspired Congress to implement the ATS. Part II explains the
international significance of the statute and why civil remedies are
preferable to criminal liability. Part III of this Note provides insight into
modern cases that shaped the application of the ATS. Part IV explains
why the Supreme Court in Jesner had the potential to permanently shift
the tides of corporate liability. After discussing scholars' reasoning
against corporate liability in Part V, this Note concludes by asserting that
the Supreme Court should have ruled in favor of corporate liability under
the ATS by applying the theory of universal jurisdiction.

IN TR O D U C TIO N   ......................................................................................... 2

    I.   THE ALIEN TORT STATUTE'S INCEPTION: THE FAUX PAs
         THAT STARTED  IT A LL ............................................................. 5

    II.  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ATS IN THE
         IN TERNATIONAL  CONTEXT  ......................................................... 6
         A. Violations of the Laws of Nations ...................... 7
         B. Civil Remedies Provided by the ATS are
             Preferable to Criminal Adjudication .............................. 8


     * J.D. candidate 2019, University of Florida Levin College of Law; B.A. 2015, Rollins
College. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my parents, Hasan and May, for their
unwavering faith in me over the years, and my younger brother, Said, for giving me peace of mind
by taking care of Bella and Elmo whenever I am away from home. I would also like to thank the
student editors and staff of the Florida Law Review who edited this Note, and the Forum
Department for the honor of being published.

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