LSC 245/64
Background
The claimant is a Libyan company that operates a chicken farm, which was damaged in 2011 as a result of aggressive actions preceding the overthrow of the Ghaddafi Regime. In 2013, the Council of Ministers established a committee to oversee compensation for property damage. When the claimant's application for compensation was rejected, the company claimed compensation in court.
The case is one of many concerning companies who suffered damages and losses in connection with the Arab Spring in Libya. These cases raise a whole set of legal issues, such as whether a state can be held responsible for civil war damages, whether acts of insurgents and non-governmental militia are attributable to the state, and whether a government has an obligation to uphold security and protect private property.
Decision
In dismissing the company's claim, the Supreme Court argues that civil liability is limited to the causes of action prescribed by law: