NEW YORK - May 20 - On Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 10am, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), co-counsel EarthRights International (ERI), and other human rights attorneys will appear before Judge Kimba Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for a human rights case against the Royal Dutch Shell company and the head of its Nigerian operation, Brian Anderson.

Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum and Wiwa v. Anderson are two lawsuits on behalf of relatives of murdered activists who were fighting for human rights and environmental justice in Nigeria. The cases charge the corporation and this key official with complicity in the November 10, 1995 hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other leaders in the nonviolent opposition to Shell's pattern of human rights abuses and environmental destruction: John Kpuinen, Saturday Doobee, Daniel Gbokoo, Felix Nuate, and Dr. Barinem Kiobel.  The cases also include charges for the torture, detention, and forced exile of Mr. Saro-Wiwa's brother, Dr. Owens Wiwa, and Michael Tema Vizor; and the shooting of Karololo Kogbara and Uebari N-nah in two attacks on peaceful protestors.

Jury selection is expected to last at least 1-2 days. Opening arguments are expected to begin Thursday, May 28 at the earliest, or early the following week. Please check www.wiwavshell.org for updates.

WHAT:      Start of trial in Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum and Wiwa v. Anderson

WHEN:      Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 10am

WHO:        CCR attorneys Jennie Green and Maria LaHood, ERI attorneys Marco Simons and Rick Herz, and cooperating attorneys Judith Brown Chomsky, Anthony DiCaprio and Beth Stephens, and Paul Hoffman of Schonbrun, DeSimone, Seplow, Harris and Hoffman.

WHERE:    United States District Court of the Southern District of New York 500 Pearl St. New York, NY

For complete pdf's of the legal briefs and further background information, click here or visit www.ccrjustice.org and www.earthrights.org.