BNP Paribas said a U.S. judge’s decision to certify an October verdict allows the bank to pursue an appeal.
A jury last October found the French lender aided then-Sudanese government in committing genocide by violating American sanctions through banking services.
The court ordered BNP Paribas, Europe’s largest bank by assets, to pay $20.5 million to three Sudanese plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs had testified about human rights abuses under former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s regime.
The bank stated it will seek dismissal on appeal, claiming the trial misapplied Swiss law in its ruling.
BNP Paribas’ legal team argued the verdict incorrectly extended liability under foreign law, opening a complex cross-border legal debate.
The case has drawn attention to international banking practices and accountability for financial services linked to human rights violations.
Observers say the appeal could set a precedent for multinational banks facing lawsuits for operations in sanctioned or conflict-affected countries.
The litigation highlights the tension between U.S. sanctions enforcement and global banking operations, raising questions for European financial institutions.
BNP Paribas’ appeal will now move through U.S. courts, potentially prolonging a high-profile legal battle over historical abuses in Sudan.
