Supreme Court won’t allow lawsuit against Canadian oil company for actions in Sudan

Court turns down church appeal in genocide lawsuit

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal that sought to hold a Canadian energy company accountable in U.S. courts for allegedly aiding genocide in its pursuit of oil in Sudan.

The court did not comment Monday on its order turning down an appeal from the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, which filed a civil lawsuit against Talisman Energy Inc. on behalf of current and former residents of southern Sudan who suffered injuries during six years of a decades-long conflict in the region.

Lower federal courts threw out the lawsuit, saying there was no credible evidence to support the claims against the Calgary-based company.

The company is Canada’s biggest independent oil and gas exploration and production company.

The case is Presbyterian Church of Sudan v. Talisman Energy, 09-1262.