USA S C Final Ruling 7 2 On June 12 2008 the US Supreme Court in a 7 2 ruling penned by Justice Anthony Kennedy in Republic of the Philippines v Mariano Pimentel held that The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is reversed and the case is remanded with instruc tions to order the District Court to dismiss the inter pleader action The Court dismissed the interpleader lawsuit filed by 9 500 Filipino human rights victims 1972 1986 to recover 35 million part of a 2 billion judgment in U S courts against the Marcos estate because the Philippines is an indispensable party protected by sovereign immunity It claimed ownership of the funds transferred by Marcos in 1972 to Arelma S A which invested the money with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc in New York jurist law pitt edu Supreme Court rules in Marcos assetssupremecourtus gov REPUBLIC OF PHILIPPINES ET AL v PIMENTEL June 12 2008 No 06 1204ap google com Court ruling hinders Marcos victims seeking funds