Nestlé USA, Inc. v. Doe

Former child slaves from Mali sued Nestlé USA and Cargill under the Alien Tort Statute, a federal law that lets foreign plaintiffs bring some claims in U.S. courts. They say the companies supported Ivory Coast cocoa farms that used child slavery, while the companies argue the alleged harms happened overseas and cannot be tied closely enough to U.S. conduct.

The case is still pending, and no oral argument is scheduled yet. The companies say general corporate decisionmaking in the United States is not enough to overcome limits on overseas claims, while the plaintiffs say domestic corporations can still face these suits.

The case could shape when U.S. companies can be sued in American courts for alleged human rights abuses linked to overseas supply chains. That matters for multinational businesses, foreign workers, and consumers concerned about how products like chocolate are sourced.

Watch for the Supreme Court to schedule oral argument or take another procedural step. No decision window is available yet.

The Court is being asked whether these overseas abuse claims can proceed in U.S. courts based on general corporate activity in the United States. It is also considering whether domestic corporations can be sued under the Alien Tort Statute.

It could affect lawsuits over alleged labor abuses in global supply chains. Companies that buy goods abroad, and workers harmed overseas, could both feel the impact.

The next big step is whether the Court schedules oral argument. Until then, there is no clear timeline for when the justices might act.