ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a landmark decision, a U.S. jury on Tuesday ruled in favor of three former detainees of Abu Ghraib prison, awarding them a staggering $42 million in damages. The verdict held CACI, a military contractor based in Reston, Virginia, responsible for its role in the abuse that occurred at the infamous Iraqi prison nearly two decades ago.
This judgement followed an earlier trial wherein a jury remained deadlocked on the culpability of CACI, whose civilian interrogators were employed at Abu Ghraib during the turbulent years of 2003 and 2004. The recent verdict specifies compensatory damages of $3 million each and punitive damages of $11 million apiece for plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili, and Asa’ad Al-Zubae.
Harrowing testimony revealed the plaintiffs were subjected to a litany of abuses including beatings, sexual assault, forced nudity, among other inhumane acts. While not directly accusing CACI interrogators of perpetrating the abuse, the survivors contended that the company was complicit, alleging collusion between its staff and military police to brutally “soften up” detainees ahead of interrogations.
In response to the jury’s decision, CACI’s legal representative, John O’Connor, did not provide immediate comments on whether the company plans to appeal.
Represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the plaintiffs’ legal team hailed the verdict as a significant stride toward justice and accountability. Baher Azmy, their lawyer, commended the resilience of the three men, especially given the myriad hindrances purportedly instituted by CACI during the legal process. He affirmed that the jury’s decision fully aligned with the compensation sought.
Salah Al-Ejaili, a journalist and one of the plaintiffs, expressed profound relief at the outcome, emphasizing its broader implications for victims of oppression and wrongdoing by corporations. Al-Ejaili, who traveled to the United States to testify in person at both trials, underscored the verdict as a beacon for justice and a stern warning to any entity engaging in such reprehensible conduct.
The other two plaintiffs shared their accounts via video testimony from Iraq, recounting similar abuses consistent with those detailed by Al-Ejaili.
This trial was notably the first U.S. jury trial to adjudicate claims from Abu Ghraib survivors following the global outrage sparked two decades ago by photographs showing U.S. soldiers mistreating detainees. While the plaintiffs were not depicted in these infamous images, their recounted experiences bore incredible resemblance to the documented atrocities.
Further complicating the trial, initial deliberations wavered on whether responsibility for the misconduct rested with CACI or the U.S. Army. The plaintiffs’ attorneys argued vehemently that CACI remained culpable for its employees’ actions under the terms of their Army contract, which clearly delineated employer oversight responsibilities.
Originating from a lawsuit filed back in 2008, the legal journey was protracted over 15 years by extensive legal battles and multiple motions by CACI to dismiss the charges. Supporting the plaintiffs’ case, two retired Army generals supplied reports indicating several CACI interrogators were implicated in the abuses, with specific accusations directed at interrogator Steven Stefanowicz for allegedly inciting soldiers to abuse detainees.
Despite these accusations, Stefanowicz, appearing via a recorded video deposition at the trial, denied all allegations of misconduct.
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