9th Circuit Digs Into Nestle Child Slavery Suit
In a long replacement opinion Thursday, the 9th Circuit explained why former child slaves on West African cocoa plantations may be able to sue Nestle under the Alien Tort Statute.
The plaintiffs, named as John Does in a 2009 first amended complaint filed against Nestle USA and others in Los Angeles, claimed that they were forced as children to work on Ivorian cocoa plantations for up to 14 hours per day, six days a week, given only scraps of food to eat, and endured whippings and beatings.
Children who tried to escape were forced to drink urine or had their feet cut open, the plaintiffs said.
At issue is whether Nestle, a major cocoa purchaser, knew about and supported the conditions in the name of profit.
More: Courthouse News Service