Earlier this month the Supreme Court of British Columbia gave three Eritrean men the green light to proceed with a modern-day slavery lawsuit against Vancouver-based Nevsun Resources Ltd. in Canada rather than Eritrea. The lawsuit has implications for the hundreds of Canadian companies that do business or have suppliers based in countries with questionable human-rights records, lawyers say.
The decision marks the first time a Canadian court has agreed to hear a tort claim for modern slavery. But regardless of whether the judgment is overturned on appeal, two elements of the suit – including the use of holding companies – should have M&A and corporate lawyers sitting up and taking notice.
Lexpert contributor Sandra Rubin reports at www.lexpert.ca
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