Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against Talisman

Sep 1, 2005 — A judge refused to dismiss a church’s lawsuit alleging that a Canadian energy company aided genocide in its pursuit of oil in Sudan, despite efforts by the United States and Canada to stop the suit.

The ruling allowing the suit to proceed came Tuesday after U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in New York reviewed a diplomatic letter from the Canadian Embassy calling the case an “infringement in the conduct of foreign relations by the government of Canada” that would have a “chilling effect” on Canadian firms in the Sudan.

The U.S. Department of State told the court in a letter it took no position on the lawsuit’s merits but shared the Canadian government’s concerns. “Even giving substantial deference to the Canada letter, Talisman has not shown that dismissal of this action is appropriate,” the judge wrote.

Talisman Energy Inc. stopped doing business in Sudan more than two years ago.
TLM (TSX) rose 85 cents to $57.95.

AP/ST