The case…alleges that a subsidiary of Coca-Cola based in Guatemala City...engaged in terror tactics against the families of Palacios and Jose Alberto Vicente Chavez because of their union activities. The plaintiffs allege that they were targeted with the full knowledge and support of company officials…Coca-Cola…deny any knowledge or involvement with these crimes. A Coca-Cola spokesperson…[said] We maintain there is no truth in these allegations...The fact of the matter is, we haven't been involved. No knowledge of the violence, no involvement in the violence. The company went on to condemn the plaintiffs in this case for "forum-shopping" and claimed that bringing the suit under the Alien Tort Claims Act was a "misuse of the U.S. judicial system."