I'd much rather put the people responsible on trial, not the companies
a.) O the people are sued too.
b.) Who do you think ordered them to do it? "Indonesia villagers accused Exxon Mobil Corp's security forces of murder, torture and other abuses in 1999-2001" <--- This case was settled, for a lot of money. Why would Exxon do that given that they love blowing these things off/having them procedurally dismissed? There must have been something that kept Exon's very expensive lawyers from not taking this seriously.
c.) None of these corporations knew anything about this? Not a bit? Boy, everybody suddenly knows nothing when a crime is committed, even and especially if they are at fault and that can be proven.... Nobody had any duty to supervise anything despite employing people as "supervisors?"
The corporation is the one calling the shots and paying these people to provide security. Dead bodies start showing up and they can be linked to the corporation, that's a problem. You go after the ringleader who is giving the orders, not just the guy on the street carrying out orders from said ringleader.... Or, if you don't, then ringleader will get another guy to follow his orders....
If we're keeping score, one stupid appeals court in New York State (not this case but another case from a long time ago) stupidly ruled that corporations can't be liable and have immunity. Nobody tried to take that case further (to the SCOTUS), then, so the ruling just sat. Every other court in the country has said there is no corporate immunity....
Hopefully, the Supreme Court is just taking this to side with the majority of appeals courts and smack down the one errant one....
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Also this:
http://screen.yahoo.com/bill-maher-s-advice-for-obama-28411163.html\I found it funny and perhaps a little true if not over-exaggerated (it is comedy). Could use some mood lightening after the human rights violation stuff....