Social and Environmental Litigation Against Transnational Firms in Africa
Author(s)
Frynas, Jedrzej George
Abstract
As elsewhere in the world, Africa has experienced a rise in litigation against transnational corporations for adverse environmental & social impact. Cape plc & RTZ have been sued in British courts for environmental damage & for breach of employment rights in Africa. Companies that sold products to South Africa’s former apartheid regime, such as Fujitsu & IBM, are now being sued in US courts. Shell & Chevron are being sued in US courts for human rights abuses in Nigeria. At the same time, foreign firms have been successfully sued in African courts for social & environmental damage. This article outlines the main relevant court cases & attempts to assess the significance of this litigation. The discussion of litigation in this article is divided into three parts: court cases filed in English, American, & African (mainly Nigerian) courts. This is followed by an explanation of the triggers of legal change, a discussion of the impact of litigation & the conclusion. 3 Tables, 35 References. Adapted from the source document.
