In a historic 7-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court decided today in Jam v. International Finance Corporation (IFC) that international organizations like the World Bank Group can be sued in U.S. courts.
The Court’s decision marks a defining moment for the IFC – the arm of the World Bank Group that lends to the private sector. For years, the IFC has operated as if it were “above the law,” at times pursuing reckless lending projects that inflicted serious human rights abuses on local communities, and then leaving the communities to fend for themselves.
Press Release: Historic Supreme Court Win: WB Group Is Not Above The Law
Analysis of the Judgement
The Supreme Court Rules in Jam v. International Finance Corporation (Lawfareblog.com)
Opinion analysis: Justices hold that international organizations do not have near-complete immunity (Scotusblog.com)
Wake Up World Bank (Down To Earth)
US Supreme Court Construes Scope of Immunities in Jam (Lexology.com)
No Longer Above The Law, The World Bank Faces Fight Of Its Life (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists)
The World Bank Must Clean up its Act (Nature)
Jam v. IFC – What does it mean for Accountability? (Green Climate Fund)
The US Supreme Court Judgment: A Challenge to World Bank’s unfettered immunity (Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt)
US Supreme Court rules against the World Bank’s claim of absolute immunity (Brettonwoodsproject.org)
Lifting The Veil On Legal Immunity To Multilateral Institution (Business Standard)
How IFC Is Dealing With Pressure To Boost Accountability (Devex)
The World Bank’s legacy of environmental destruction: a case study (Open Democracy)
Coal-Ravaged Indian Fishers Take to the Supreme Court (Sierra Magazine)
Media Coverage of the Ruling
Gujarat Farmers Win The First Round Against World Bank (Bloomberg Quint)
No Absolute Immunity For World Bank Affiliate: US Supreme Court (Down To Earth)
World Bank Affiliate Is Not Shielded From All Legal Action, Supreme Court Rules (Washington Post)
US Supreme Court Revives India Power Plant Lawsuit (MoneyControl.com)
World Bank’s Legal Immunity Stripped, Opening Door for Lawsuits (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists)
अमेरिकी सुप्रीम कोर्ट में मुंद्रा के मछुआरों के एक संगठन ने कैसे विश्व बैंक को दिखा दी औकात (Mediavigil.com)
US Supreme Court Order “Clears Way” To File Case On IFC Funding Of Tata Mundra Plant (Counterview.net)
Calls for Stronger Accountability After IFC Supreme Court Ruling (Devex)
What does the US Supreme Court’s decision on IFC impunity mean for Indian fishermen? (Business and Human Rights Resource Centre)
Gujarat Fishermen’s Landmark Victory in US Supreme Court Goes Unreported in Indian Media (The Wire)
IFC’s kettle of fish (The Statesman)
How Gujarat Fishermen Won US Top Court Ruling Against Global Funding Agency (Indian Express)
U.S. Supreme Court Rules That World Bank Can Be Sued (Npr.org)
विश्वबैंक जैसे अंतरराष्ट्रीय संगठनों से टकराते जनांदोलन (सुबह सवेरे)
Gujarat’s Mundra Fisherfolk Prepare For Long Battle (Hindustan Times)
Photos: Tata Mundra
Some key documents on the case:
- Client Stories
- Factsheet
- IFC Motion to Dismiss – July 2015
- Jam v. IFC Complaint – April 2015
- Jam v. IFC Order Granting Motion to Dismiss – March 2016
- Dr. Erica R. Gould Amicus for Appellant – August 2016
- Daniel Bradlow Amicus for Appellant – August 2016
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, et. al Amicus for Appellee – November 2016
- Jam v. IFC Appellee Brief – December 2016
- Jam v. IFC Appellants Opening Brief – December 2016
- Jam v. IFC – Appellant Reply Brief – December 2016
- Opinion – June 2017
- Petition for Rehearing En Banc – July 2017
- Jam v. IFC Cert Petition – January 2018
- Transcript of the Arguments at the Supreme Court of the United States of America
More documents on Tata Mundra: http://www.cenfa.org/projects-in-focus/tata-mundra-ultra-mega-project/