The pre-trial court hearing  has been delayed for the case brought in New York against Shell for alleged complicity in Nigerian human rights abuses.

Separately, however, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York permitted the plaintiff's appeal against a lower court decision to dismiss the suit against Shell's Nigerian subsidiary. This permits the plaintiffs to build a case against Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, which will also need to show that New York can have jurisdiction.

The case is being brought under the Alien Tort Claims Act.