Civil Appeals & International Litigation Attorney

Services

Alexis Haller offers the following services in civil proceedings:

Direct appeals of civil cases in state and federal court
Petitions for review in the California Supreme Court
Petitions for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court
Major motions in trial proceedings (in support of counsel of record)
Representation of clients in federal district court proceedings under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA)

Mr. Haller represents clients in a broad range of civil appeals and international litigation, including cases involving personal injury torts, fraud, breach of contract, real property disputes, diplomatic immunity, and head-of-state immunity. Although his international practice focuses on the defense of sovereign defendants, Mr. Haller also works with plaintiffs’ attorneys needing assistance in FSIA cases.

Blecher v. Holy See

146 F.4TH 206 (2d CIR. 2025)

Affirming dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under the FSIA tort exception’s discretionary function exclusion.

Alperin v. Vatican Bank

360 F. App’x 847 (9th Cir. 2009) amended in part, 365 F. App’x 74 (9th Cir. 2010)

Affirming dismissal under FSIA of all claims against foreign sovereign instrumentality in putative class action.

Berger v. Archbishop Pietro Sambi

Adv. No. 08-30122 (Bankr. S.D. Iowa 2009)

Dismissing legal action against foreign diplomatic agent.

Blecher v. Holy See

631 F. Supp. 3d 163 (S.D.N.Y. 2022)

Dismissing negligence claim against foreign sovereign under the FSIA.

D.M. v. Apuron

658 F. Supp. 3d 825 (D. Guam 2023)

Quashing service of process against foreign sovereign and dismissing respondeat superior and negligence claims under the FSIA.

Dale v. Colagiovanni

443 F.3d 425 (5th Cir. 2006)

Rejecting apparent authority agency theory under the FSIA.

Dale v. Colagiovanni

337 F.Supp.2D 825 (S.D. MISS. 2004)

Dismissing RICO claim against foreign sovereign.

Doe v. Holy See

CV 02-430-MO, 2011 WL 1541275 (D. Or. Apr. 21, 2011)

Narrowing jurisdictional discovery against foreign sovereign.

Doe v. Holy See

434 F. Supp. 2d 925 (D. Or. 2006)

Rejecting commercial activity theory of jurisdiction in tort action.

Doe v. Holy See

557 F.3d 1066 (9th Cir. 2009)

Dismissing negligence and vicarious liability claims against foreign sovereign under the FSIA.

Doe v. Holy See

CIV.A. 13-128, 2014 WL 1329985 (E.D. La. Apr. 2, 2014)

Quashing service of process against foreign sovereign.

Doe v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston

408 F. Supp. 2d 272 (S.D. Tex. 2005)

Dismissing all claims against head of state under the doctrine of head-of-state immunity.

In re Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland in Oregon

335 B.R. 815 (Bankr. D. Or. 2005)

Narrowing discovery against foreign official.

Keenan v. Holy See

686 F.SUPP.3d 810 (D. MINN. 2023)

Dismissing tort, commercial, and international law claims under the FSIA.

Keenan v. Holy See

521 F. Supp.3d 825 (D. Minn. 2021)

Quashing service of process against foreign sovereign.

Magi XXI, Inc. v. Stato Della Città Del Vaticano

818 F. Supp. 2d 597 (E.D.N.Y. 2011)

Dismissal of claims against foreign sovereign under contractual forum selection clause.

McCarthy v. Fuller

714 F.3d 971 (7th Cir. 2013)

Upholding the autonomy of religious organizations to decide issues of religious status and religious doctrine.

Nursing Home Pension Fund v. Oracle Corp.

C01-00988 MJJ, 2007 WL 1880381 (N.D. Cal. June 29, 2007)

Recognizing the right of foreign citizen to invoke testimonial privilege during deposition under the Hague Evidence Convention.

O’Bryan v. Holy See

471 F. Supp. 2d 784 (W.D. Ky. 2007)

Rejecting commercial activity theory of jurisdiction in tort action.

J.C. and Others v. Belgium

No. 11625/17 (October 10, 2021)

Upholding foreign sovereign’s immunity claim in European Court of Human Rights.

O’Bryan v. Holy See

556 F.3d 361 (6th Cir. 2009)

Affirming rejection of commercial activity theory of jurisdiction in tort action.

O’Bryan v. Holy See

490 F. Supp. 2d 826 (W.D. Ky. 2005)

Rejecting challenge to foreign state recognition and adopting strict compliance standard for service of process under the FSIA.

Robles v. Holy See

No. 20-CV-2106 (VEC), 2021 WL 5999337 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 20, 2021)

Dismissing negligence, breach of contract, and international law claims against foreign sovereign under the FSIA.

Zivkovich v. Vatican Bank

242 F. Supp. 2d 659 (N.D. Cal. 2002)

Dismissing all claims against foreign sovereign instrumentality under the political question doctrine.

Civil Appeals and FSIA Cases

Services

Notable Cases

Blecher v. Holy See

Alperin v. Vatican Bank

Berger v. Archbishop Pietro Sambi

Blecher v. Holy See

D.M. v. Apuron

Dale v. Colagiovanni

Dale v. Colagiovanni

Doe v. Holy See

Doe v. Holy See

Doe v. Holy See

Doe v. Holy See

Doe v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston

In re Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland in Oregon

Keenan v. Holy See

Keenan v. Holy See

Magi XXI, Inc. v. Stato Della Città Del Vaticano

McCarthy v. Fuller

Nursing Home Pension Fund v. Oracle Corp.

O’Bryan v. Holy See

J.C. and Others v. Belgium

O’Bryan v. Holy See

O’Bryan v. Holy See

Robles v. Holy See

Zivkovich v. Vatican Bank

Criminal and Civil Appeals Representation and International Litigation