More Human Rights Cases Being Brought By Companies
By: Ainsley Brown
Yes, that’s right, you read correctly: human rights cases are being brought by companies not against them.
Well, at least this is the case in the UK, as a story in the Times explains. A new survey has revealed that while the overall human rights cases brought in 2008 is down over 2007, there has being an increase in its use in commercial disputes.
The survey conducted by Sweet & Maxwell revealed that 6% of human rights cases were brought against HM Revenue & Customs – who would have thought: human rights and taxes. Another 3% of cases were pursued by businesses in other types of disputes.
A recent example cited by Times is the case brought by Northern Rock shareholders, including the hedge funds RAB Special and SRM Global Master. The shareholders claim that the nationalization of Northern Rock in 2008 by the Government has deprived them of their property. As the argument goes, the Government’s compensation scheme is wholly inadequate with the effect that the shareholders have received no compensation.
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