Current and former residents of the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea appeal the dismissal of their class action complaint under the Alien Tort Claims Act against Rio Tinto PLC. The complaint alleges the company's mining operations destroyed the island's environment, harmed the health of its people, and incited a 10-year civil war. The class also alleged that Rio was guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and racial and environmental harm in violation of international law.
This case was argued before an en banc panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on September 21, 2010 in Courtroom One of the James R. Browning Federal Courthouse in San Francisco, California.
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