Sarei v. Rio Tinto UPDATE:

Sarei v. Rio Tinto, PLC, 02-56256 / 02-56390

Three-Judge Panel Opinion: 487 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir. 2007)

Order Taking Case En Banc: 499 F.3d 923 (9th Cir. 2007)

Date of Order Taking Case En Banc: August 20, 2007

En Banc Order: 550 F.3d 822 (9th Cir. 2008)

Date of En Banc Order: December 16, 2008

Status: Remand for consideration, in the first instance, of whether exhaustion of local remedies was required, in dismissal of Alien Tort Statute ("ATS") action.

On 9/29/09 the en banc court granted defendants' motion to reactivate the appeals, and ordered supplemental briefing. Oral argument to be scheduled by separate order.

Members of En Banc Court: Mary M. Schroeder, Harry Pregerson, Stephen R. Reinhardt, Andrew J. Kleinfeld, Barry G. Silverman, M.M. McKeown, Marsha S. Berzon, Johnnie B. Rawlinson, Consuelo M. Callahan, Carlos T. Bea, Sandra S. Ikuta

Subject Matter: Appeal of the district court's dismissal of a class action complaint brought by current and former residents of the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea against a mining company under the Alien Tort Claims Act.

Holding: Certain ATS claims are appropriately considered for exhaustion under both domestic prudential standards and core principles of international law. Defendant bears the burden to plead and justify an exhaustion requirement, including the availability of local remedies.

Petition for rehearing en banc