The Alien Tort Statute remained dormant for nearly two centuries before human rights attorneys resurrected it to use against corporations for allegedly exploiting workers in foreign countries.

Now the U.S. Supreme Court may have put the statute back on ice in a key — but somewhat muddy — ruling focused on an extraterritorial application of U.S. law. South Florida attorneys who practice in this area have widely differing interpretations of the April 17 decision.