Burnley v. United States
Case Overview
The mothers of 2 Trinidadian nationals who were killed in an airstrike by the U.S. government while on a fishing boat off the Venezuelan coast sued the United States of America, claiming that the strike was a wrongful act that caused their deaths and violated customary international law.
BrynoDC Coverage 1 video
The Application
The airstrike occurred outside U.S. territory and killed non-U.S. nationals, so the tortious act exception does not apply. The case depends on whether courts recognize a cause of action under customary international law or find an implied waiver of immunity for violations of established international norms governing use of force.
The Conclusion
The case is active; resolution depends on judicial recognition of customary international law claims against the U.S. government in the military context and application of sovereign immunity doctrines.
Flag an issue
This tracker is maintained by BrynoDC and is free because readers fund it. Support