No. 17-1011October Term 2018Decided Feb 27, 2019
Jam v. International Finance Corp.
This case asked whether the International Finance Corporation, an international organization, could claim the same broad immunity from lawsuits that foreign governments had in 1945, or only the narrower immunity foreign governments have today.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Feb 27, 2019
- What it's about
This case asked whether the International Finance Corporation, an international organization, could claim the same broad immunity from lawsuits that foreign governments had in 1945, or only the narrower immunity foreign governments have today. The suit arose after residents of Gujarat, India, alleged that a power plant financed by the IFC caused serious environmental harm.
Question presented
1. Whether the International Organizations Immunities Act-which affords international organizations the "same immunity" from suit that foreign governments have, 22 U.S.C. § 288a (b)- confers the same immunity on such organizations as foreign governments have under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602-11. 2. If not, what are the rules governing the immunity to which international organizations are entitled?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit / Decision released Feb 27, 2019
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided February 27, 2019
The Court released its decision on February 27, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology