Flomo v. Firestone Natural Rubber Co.
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
643 F.3d 1013 (2011)
Twenty-three Liberian children (plaintiffs) sued Firestone (defendant) under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), claiming that harsh production quotas on its Liberian rubber plantation induced employees to use their own children as helpers, with Firestone officials aware of and even condoning the practice; Firestone did not directly employ any children. The plaintiffs offered little evidence about how many children worked, their ages, or the nature of their labor. The district court granted Firestone summary judgment, and the plaintiffs appealed.
Whether a corporate entity may be held liable under the Alien Tort Statute for violating customary international law where there is minimal evidence both that the international community treats the underlying norm as binding and of the nature and extent of the alleged violation.