News

For the last thirty years, courts have struggled to interpret and apply the Alien Tort Claims Act, a statute that permits non-U.S. citizens to bring civil lawsuits in U.S. courts for violations of the law of nations, as defined by customary international law. Most recently, courts have strongly disagreed about whether corporations - which are commonly sued under the statute for "aiding and abetting" foreign governments and individuals in committing alleged human rights violations - can be liable under the statute.

Pfizer Inc. will pay more than $60 million to resolve U.S. government probes into whether the drug maker paid bribes to win business overseas, people familiar with the matter said.  The settlements, expected to be made public by year-end, come as part of a government investigation that has changed how the pharmaceutical industry conducts business overseas in light of U.S. antibribery laws.

Tyco International Ltd. said Wednesday that it expected $34 million in losses stemming from a U.S. foreign bribery investigation and violations of German competition law.

Senator Charles Grassley is pressing Attorney General Eric Holder for details on guidance on a foreign bribery law the Department of Justice is set to release next year.  In a series of written questions, Grassley asked Holder whether forthcoming guidance on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act would address concerns raised by the business community about the law’s enforcement, which, they argue, puts U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage. The undated questionnaire was sent this week.