Cohen Milstein Announces Court Denies Summary Judgment: Human Rights Case Against...

Cohen Milstein Announces Court Denies Summary Judgment: Human Rights Case Against Exxon Mobil Will Go to Trial

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has
denied Exxon Mobil Corporation's motion for summary judgment in Doe v.
Exxon Mobil Corp., removing the last procedural hurdle before trial in
a groundbreaking case establishing corporate responsibility for
international human rights abuses.

The District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, eleven
Indonesian civilians who were the alleged victims of rape, murder, and
torture, at the hands of the military security personnel protecting
Exxon Mobil's large natural gas facilities in Aceh, Indonesia. The
defendant, Exxon Mobil, is the world's largest publicly traded
international oil and gas company and has recently set records for
earning the largest U.S. quarterly profits in history.

Plaintiffs presented evidence that Exxon Mobil and its Indonesian
subsidiary are liable for killings and torture committed by military
security forces protecting the company premises. The Court ruled that
plaintiffs have provided sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on
all of their claims.

Significantly, the Court found that Exxon Mobil could be
responsible for the violent acts committed by the security forces
because the company retained them, paid them, and could have
controlled them. The Court also found that Exxon Mobil could be liable
for negligently hiring a security force with a reputation for
committing violent human rights abuses.

Having exhausted its procedures to avoid trial, Exxon Mobil will
now have to defend itself before a jury. The District Court has not
yet set a date for the trial, which will take place in Washington,
D.C.

Plaintiffs are represented a legal team including Michael D.
Hausfeld and Agnieszka Fryszman, firm partners and members of the
international human rights legal team of Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld &
Toll P.L.L.C. (Washington, DC). A copy of the District Court opinion
and other relevant information about the case is available at
www.cmht.com.

Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll P.L.L.C.
by
Media Relations Inc.
Deborah Schwartz, 301-897-8838
Cell: 240-355-8838
Fax: 301-897-9143
deborah@mediarelationsinc.com

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