United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - Opinion in Belize Social Development Limited v Government of Belize - No 14-7002 - Consolidated with 14-7003 - 14-7018 - 12 July 2015
Country
Year
2015
Summary
... SENTELLE, Senior Circuit Judge: Belize Social Development Limited ("BSDL") petitioned the district court to confirm an arbitration award rendered against the government of Belize. The arbitration award arises out of the alleged breach by Belize of a 2005 agreement between Belize and Belize Telemedia Limited, BSDL's predecessor in interest. Belize had declined to participate in the arbitration underlying the petition and took the position in the district court and before us that the Prime Minister at the time of the entry of the agreement lacked authority to enter either the underlying contract or the arbitration agreement and that therefore, the arbitration exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1602, et seq., does not apply, so that Belize remains immune from this action and the courts of the United States do not have jurisdiction over this litigation. Because Belize had not provided support for its claim with respect to the arbitration agreement, the district court rejected the contention and entered judgment in favor of BSDL. Belize Soc. Dev. Ltd. v. Gov't of Belize, 5 F. Supp. 3d 25, 33- 34 (D.D.C. 2013). For the same reason, we affirm the judgment of the district court. ...