- A U.S. District Court today rejected Vale’s (NYSE:VALE) request to dismiss a lawsuit alleging it conspired with Israeli billionaire Benjamin Steinmetz to take a West African mine away from rival Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO).
- The judge also dismissed Vale’s argument that the suit should be brought in an English court, saying Rio’s choice of a U.S. court is justified based on the plaintiff’s likelihood of obtaining jurisdiction over all of the defendants.
- The civil lawsuit, filed in April, alleges that Vale and its former partner Steinmetz worked together to take Rio’s rights to the Simandou iron ore deposit through corruption.