Republic of Philippines v. Pimentel, Temporary Administrator of Estate of Pimentel, Deceased

Summary

The Court held that under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19(b), the interpleader action could not proceed without the Republic of the Philippines and the Commission due to the prejudice their absence would cause, particularly given their sovereign immunity. The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit, which had discounted the sovereigns' claims as unlikely to succeed. Justices Stevens and Souter concurred in part and dissented in part, favoring remand for further proceedings rather than outright dismissal.