APARTHEID AFTERSHOCKS Hampered by conflicts of interest, the U.S. Supreme Court had no choice but rule to allow a multibillion-dollar federal lawsuit from South African blacks and others against U.S. and foriegn companies to proceed. The plaintiffs say that the companies should be held liable for assisting South Africa’s former apartheid government. Since Justices John Roberts, Stephen Breyer, and Samuel Alito held stock in some of the companies named in the suit, and Justice Anthony Kennedy’s son is a top manager at Credit Suisse, the four of them had to recluse themselves from the hearing. Without a quorum, they let a lower-court ruling allowing the suit to go forward stand. [CNN]