Firm: O'Melveny & Myers
Issue Area: International Human Rights
O'Melveny is defending Exxon Mobil against allegations that the corporation supported murder, torture and extrajudicial killings in Indonesia. The lawsuit, brought by villagers from Indonesia's Aceh territory, claim they and their families suffered human rights abuses while Exxon attempted to secure a natural gas facility in Aceh.
In its briefs, O'Melveny argued for corporate immunity, stating "citizens cannot sue corporations for committing acts of torture or extrajudicial killing" and, more broadly, that "citizens may not sue for aiding and abetting torture or extrajudicial killing."