Orders

U.S. Jury Orders $42 Million Award to Abu Ghraib Detainees in Historic Verdict Against Defense Contractor

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Reston, Virginia — This week, a federal jury awarded $42 million in damages to three former detainees of Abu Ghraib prison, who suffered severe mistreatment while imprisoned at the controversial facility in Iraq. The decision came after a previous trial resulted in a hung jury on whether the civilian interrogators employed by the Reston-based company CACI should be held liable for these actions during 2003 and 2004. The collective damages, divided equally among Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili, and Asa’ad Al-Zubae, consist of $3 million in compensatory and $11 million in punitive damages per plaintiff. … Read more

U.S. Jury Orders $42 Million Payout to Former Abu Ghraib Detainees in Historic Verdict

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A federal jury in the United States has awarded $42 million in damages to three former detainees of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, concluding a legal battle over allegations of torture and human rights abuses. The case, implicating private contractor employees, highlights ongoing controversies around the Abu Ghraib scandal that first broke out in 2004 when photographs showing Iraqi detainees being abused by U.S. soldiers were leaked to the media. This lawsuit, however, centered on the conduct of civilian contractors at the prison, rather than military personnel. The three plaintiffs, whose identities have been protected, … Read more

Jury Orders Blue Cross to Pay $12 Million to Former Employee Over COVID Vaccine Mandate Dispute

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DETROIT — A Michigan court on Friday ruled in favor of a former employee of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, awarding her over $12 million after finding the company had wrongfully terminated her employment due to her refusal to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination mandate, citing religious grounds. Lisa Domski, a veteran IT specialist who had been with Blue Cross for more than three decades, argued that the company’s mandate conflicted with her Catholic beliefs. Despite her long tenure and her role being fully remote during the pandemic, her request for a religious exemption … Read more

U.S. Jury Orders Military Contractor to Pay $42 Million for Role in Abu Ghraib Detainee Abuse

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a landmark decision, a U.S. jury awarded $42 million on Tuesday to three former detainees who suffered abuse two decades ago at Iraq’s infamous Abu Ghraib prison. They filed a lawsuit against a Virginia-based military contractor, alleging it was complicit in their torture and abuse. The plaintiffs, Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili, and Asa’ad Al-Zubae, each received $3 million in compensatory damages and $11 million in punitive damages. The jury found that the contractor, CACI, failed to prevent the mistreatment by its civilian interrogators, who worked alongside the U.S. Army at … Read more