BNP Paribas to Pursue Appeal in Sudan Genocide Case After U.S. Judge Certifies Verdict
By Cygnus | 08 Jan 2026
BNP Paribas (BNPP) confirmed on Thursday that it will proceed with an official appeal in its long-running Sudan-related litigation after a U.S. federal judge formally certified a landmark jury verdict. The move allows the eurozone’s largest bank by assets to challenge a ruling that has sent shockwaves through the global compliance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) sectors.
In October 2025, a Manhattan jury found BNP Paribas civilly liable for providing banking services that indirectly enabled the former Sudanese regime of Omar al-Bashir to commit acts of genocide. The court ordered the bank to pay a combined $20.75 million in compensatory damages to three Sudanese refugees.
The Path to Appeal
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied the bank’s final post-trial motions to overturn the jury’s decision and certified the verdict for appeal. BNP Paribas maintains that the trial court misapplied Swiss law—which the bank argues should have governed the liability standards since the transactions were processed through its Geneva office—and that it was prevented from presenting critical evidence of its compliance with European regulations at the time.
“BNP Paribas welcomes the court’s decision as it permits the bank to pursue the procedure as planned,” the lender said in a statement. The bank remains firm that the verdict is “fundamentally flawed” and should not be extrapolated to the broader class of 20,000 claimants.
Market Response and Outlook
Investor sentiment turned cautiously optimistic following the announcement. Shares of BNP Paribas rose 1.9% to reach an intraday high of €82.44 in early Paris trading before settling near €81.36 (10:44 CET), outperforming a largely static CAC 40. Analysts suggest that the market has already “priced in” the initial $20.75 million penalty and is now focused on the bank’s ability to prevent this “bellwether” case from triggering a multi-billion dollar class-action settlement.
Summary
BNP Paribas is officially moving to the appellate level to contest a historic $20.75 million verdict linking its Geneva operations to Sudanese atrocities. Following a judge’s certification on January 7, the bank will challenge the jury’s application of Swiss law. While markets showed resilience on Thursday, the bank faces significant reputational risks and a potential liability “cliff” from 20,000 additional class members seeking damages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why is Swiss law central to the appeal?
The bank argues that under the Swiss Code of Obligations, “adequate causation” requires a more direct link between banking services and the specific harm suffered than the “conscious assistance” standard used by the U.S. jury.
Q2: Does this affect the $8.97 billion settlement from 2014?
No. That was a criminal settlement with the DOJ for sanctions violations. This current case is a civil lawsuit brought by individual survivors for human rights abuses.
Q3: What is the risk of a “Class-Action Cliff”?
These three plaintiffs were “bellwethers.” If their verdict stands on appeal, it sets a legal floor for the remaining 20,000 refugees in the class, potentially exposing BNPP to over $100 billion in total claims.
