Estate of Arturo Giron Alvarez, et al. v. The Johns Hopkins University, et al.

At a Glance

Date Filed: 

September 18, 2019

Current Status 

The Center for Constitutional Rights filed an amicus brief to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the Guatemalan plaintiffs-appellees and affirmance on September 18, 2019. Following the Supreme Court's decision in Nestle v. Doe, the parties voluntarily dismissed the appeal, and the district court set a briefing schedule for renewed cross motions for summary judgment.

Co-Counsel 

Center for Justice and Accountability

Case Description 

The case was filed on behalf of Guatemalans who were subjected to non-consensual medical experiments and their families against Johns Hopkins University, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Bristol-Myers Squibb for the legal entities' role in the medical experiments that took place in Guatemala between 1945 and 1956. Our brief argues that Jesner v. Arab Bank does not preclude suit against domestic U.S. corporations under the Alien Tort Statute for international law violations.

Case Timeline

June 24, 2021
Appeal is voluntarily dismissed
June 24, 2021
Appeal is voluntarily dismissed

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Nestle v. Doe, the parties voluntarily dismiss the appeal, and the district court sets a briefing schedule for renewed cross motions for summary judgment.

September 18, 2019
Center for Constitutional Rights and Center for Justice and Accountability submit amicus brief
September 18, 2019
Center for Constitutional Rights and Center for Justice and Accountability submit amicus brief
EarthRights International and a group of international law scholars each also submit an amicus brief in support of the Guatemalan appellees.
September 11, 2019
Brief of Guatemalans
September 11, 2019
Brief of Guatemalans
August 5, 2019
U.S. Chamber of Commerce submits amicus brief
August 5, 2019
U.S. Chamber of Commerce submits amicus brief
July 29, 2019
Brief of Johns Hopkins University, Rockefeller Foundation, and Bristol-Myers Squibb
July 29, 2019
Brief of Johns Hopkins University, Rockefeller Foundation, and Bristol-Myers Squibb