A military contractor that was accused in a lawsuit by former detainees of the Abu Ghraib prison of conspiring to commit torture has paid $5.28 million to detainees held at the prison and other US detention centers in Iraq. The detainees filed suit against two military defense contractors in federal court in 2008 for alleged torture occurring over a period of four years. The cases against CACI International Inc.and L-3 Communications Holdings Inc were dismissed in September 2011 on the grounds that the companies have immunity as government contractors. A 14-judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled 12-2 in May that the dismissal was premature. L-3 Communications Holdings Inc settled the dispute and each of the former detainees who were parties to the lawsuit received a portion of the settlement. The case against CACI is likely to go to trial this summer.
From Jurist, Jan. 9. Used with permission.
Abu Ghraib contractor sues ex-detainees
CACI International Inc, a US military defense contractor, has filed suit against former detainees of Abu Ghraib seeking legal expenses after a group of four plaintiffs filed lawsuits against CACI in 2009, accusing the company of crimes against humanity, sexual assault, torture and other violations at Abu Ghraib prison. In June a judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed the detainee’s case, ruling that because the alleged abuse took place overseas the court had no jurisdiction to decide the case. CACI is now asking its accusers to pay $15,580 for legal expenses.
From Jurist, Aug. 16. Used with permission.