Supreme Court Reins In Activist Lawsuits, Major Win for U.S. Businesses

Sotomayor added on the TVPA: “Because the plain text of this statute includes individuals who aid and abet the victim’s torture, I would affirm the Ninth Circuit’s judgment on this score as well.”

This decision represents a major conservative triumph for textualism, originalism, and restraint.

By ending the era of judicially invented ATS claims and rejecting implied aiding-and-abetting liability under the TVPA, the Court prevents activist plaintiffs and foreign interests from weaponizing U.S. courts against American companies.

Such suits have long imposed massive legal costs, chilled innovation, and entangled businesses in overseas disputes far removed from legitimate U.S. interests.

Companies like Cisco can now focus on lawful commerce without fear of endless “international norm” litigation dreamed up by creative lawyers.