Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/18pdf/17-1011_mkhn.pdf
Page Number: 32.0

Cite as:  586 U. S. ____ (2019) 

13 

BREYER, J., dissenting 

1502. 

Some of these organizations, including the International
Finance Corporation (IFC), themselves believe they do not 
need broad immunity in commercial areas, and they have
waived it.  See, e.g., Articles of Agreement of the Interna-
tional  Finance  Corporation,  Art.  6,  §3,  Dec.  5,  1955,  7
U. S. T.  2214,  264  U.  N.  T.  S.  118  (implemented  by  22
U. S. C. §282g); see also 860 F. 3d 703, 706 (CADC 2017). 
But today’s decision will affect them nonetheless.  That is 
because  courts  have  long  interpreted  their  waivers  in  a 
manner  that  protects  their  core  objectives.  See,  e.g., 
Mendaro  v.  World  Bank,  717  F. 2d  610,  614–615  (CADC 
1983).  (This very case provides a good example.  The D. C. 
Circuit held below that the IFC’s waiver provision does not 
cover  petitioners’  claims  because  they  “threaten  the 
[IFC’s]  policy  discretion.”  See  860  F. 3d,  at  708.)  But 
today’s  decision  exposes  these  organizations  to  potential 
liability  in  all  cases  arising  from  their  commercial  activi-
ties, without regard to the scope of their waivers. 

Under the majority’s interpretation, that broad exposure
to  liability  is  at  least  a  reasonable  possibility.    And  that 
being  so,  the  interpretation  undercuts  Congress’  original
objectives and the expectations that it had when it enacted
the Immunities Act in 1945. 

B 

The  majority’s  opinion  will  have  a  further  important 
consequence—one  that  more  clearly  contradicts  the  stat-
ute’s  objectives  and  overall  scheme.    It  concerns  the  im-
portant goal of weeding out lawsuits that are likely bad or 
harmful—those  likely  to  produce  rules  of  law  that  inter-
fere  with  an  international  organization’s  public  interest
tasks. 

To  understand  its  importance,  consider  again  that  in-
ternational  organizations,  unlike  foreign  nations,  are 
multilateral,  with  members  from  many  different  nations.