Slick Bastards

I don’t know how many lawsuits any given mega corporation is involved in at any given time, but it seems to make sense that any institution with global size operations has a near constant present in so many societies is going to also constantly be in legal battle.

One of the shadier cases I’m not seeing reported while the vultures are all abuzz over Tim Russert dying involves Exxon Oil, who recently appealed to the Supreme Court to halt a human rights lawsuit that was filed against it in 2001.

The Indonesian providence of Aceh has 11 villagers from various villages who suffered rampant human rights abuse at the hands of the Indonesian military. Exxon has been doing all they can to get the case thrown out by appealing their way up the judicial ladder. The secondary effects of this seemingly expensive and futile maneuvering is it prolongs the start of the actual trial. But why would that be desirable?

Could it have something to do with the name of the case? It’s official legal reference is “Exxon Mobil v. John Doe, 07-81.”

The Acehnese plaintiffs’ fear for their safety has been recognized as legitimate, permitting their identities to be listed as John and Jane Doe. I’ve admitted to being a cynic (which I in turn blame on my bad habit of paying attention to the world) so I can’t help but see Exxon’s dance as a move that hopes that their employees, aka the Indonesian military, might dig out a name or two, as the dead can’t sue.

Maybe the multiple appeals is fairly standard practice, maybe it’s generally better for any company getting sued to have the case take as long as possible to get to trial to wear down the not-so-wealthy, and my mistrust is misplaced.

Wait, who are we talking about? Oh yeah! An oil company. Assuming the worse in this case is nothing but sound. I mean, did you see “There Will Be Blood”? That guy was a jerk! I don’t know what other proof you people need about oil companies being bad.

And for the record, the heiarchy of corporated evil empires goes: Oil, tobacco, Wal-Mart. Write that down somewhere, it’ll be on the test for sure.

Also, am I the only one raising an eyebrow about Indonesia renting out their military?