For the first time, a U.S. company could potentially be held liable in U.S. courts for gross human rights abuses committed in their overseas operations.

Paying the soldiers of foreign countries to moonlight as a private security force is an inherently corrupting practice that undermines the rule of law and the neutrality of a foreign army.

One of the more interesting aspects of the Bowoto v. Chevron case has been the role played by attorney Charles James, who is considered a disciple of Karl Rove-style legal and political tactics.

Wednesday morning I watched the beginning development of a very specific narrative thread by Chevron - the underlying claim that they did not know, and could not know.

Since the state of the law is so unsettled on this point, the decision in Bowoto is likely to have a big impact on the way future human rights lawsuits are litigated. Chevron knows this, of course.

Of course American companies have a right and responsibility to protect their workers from harm - no reasonable person would argue that.