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Reps Lungren and Nadler Cont'd

“We have joined together to introduce this important piece of legislation to make clear to state sponsors of terrorism and others who finance these heinous acts that they will be held accountable.  The courthouse door should not be closed to victims of terrorism and their families,” Lungren said. “We strongly agree with Judge Richard Posner’s statement that ‘Suits against foreign financiers of terrorism can cut the terrorist’s lifeline.’  Our proposal is aimed at doing that very thing.”

Current law was intended to permit victims of terrorism to bring suit against foreign states and entities that sponsor terrorism in the United States.   Unfortunately, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals disallowed claims made by the victims of the 9-11 attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, several Saudi officials and a purported charitable organization under the control of the Kingdom.  This decision was rendered despite the acknowledgement by the court that the September 11 plaintiffs’ complaints offered a “wealth of detail… that, if true, reflect close working arrangements between ostensible charities and terrorist networks, including al Qaeda.” 

“Foreign governments that aid terrorists materially or otherwise must be held accountable,” said Nadler.  “Victims of terrorist attacks have the right to seek recourse from those who, criminally, provide the financial means to bring horrific acts of terrorism to fruition.  I am pleased to join my colleague on the Judiciary Committee, Dan Lungren, in offering this important piece of legislation.”

JASTA would allow the victims and their families of the attacks on 9-11 to reinstate their case to achieve justice and make it clear that future victims of terrorism in the United States will have the ability to bring suits in U.S. courts against foreign states and others who finance terrorism.  Among other things, it would: 

•  Enact findings that foreign sponsors of terrorist aggression against America necessarily direct their conduct at the United States.   This would counter attempts by the courts to second guess congressional intent concerning the relationship  between the sponsorship of terrorism and the conduct of terrorist attacks;

• ·Restore congressional intent by clarifying that the FSIA’s tort exception applies to acts of terrorism, extrajudicial killing, and torture in the United States;

• Clarify that the FSIA’s torts exception only requires that the injury occur in the United States and does not preclude claims for injuries occurring in the United States when the tort was carried out in part from abroad;

• Authorize causes of action pursuant to the aiding and abetting and conspiracy under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1991 (ATA);

• ·Make the ATA available in cases against foreign states, to ensure that uniform liability standards apply in such cases rather than state law standards;

• ·Extend the 4 year statute of limitations under the ATA to 15 years.

Media Coverage

Read The New York Times article entitled, "Prospects Improve for Sept. 11 Suits Against Nations" at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/19/us/sept-11-lawsuits-prospects-improve-with-reversal.html?_r=1&ref=ericlichtblau

Read the Vanity Fair article on "The Kingdom and The Towers" at: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2011/08/9-11-2011-201108

                                  We Thank our Senators (cont'd)

When we heard the news that Osama bin Laden was dead, many of us felt a sense of relief that this evil mass murderer had finally been stopped. However, many terrorists and, equally important,  the people who financed and supported Bin Laden are still walking around free, having completely evaded accountability for our injuries and the deaths of nearly 3,000 loved ones on September 11, 2001.  S. 1894 will change that.

As you know, this urgently-needed legislation will undo the Second Circuit’s misguided ruling and restore the longstanding intent of Congress to empower victims of terrorist attacks and their loved ones to help defend our nation by holding accountable those whose money and material support financed the deaths and injuries of innocent citizens.

Your support of JASTA will close an unconscionable gaping hole in homeland security, and we pledge our support to work with you for its swift passage.  Thank you.

Thomas and Beverly Burnett, Sr., Northfield, MN                                                  
Camille and Bill Doyle, The Villages, FL
Sharon Premoli, East Dorset, VT
Andrew and Doreen Lutter, Staten Island, NY
William Doyle, Jr., Staten Island, NY
Alice Hoagland, Los Gatos, CA
Terry Strada, New Vernon, NJ
Joan Molinaro, Hawley, PA
Robert Kobus, Morristown, NJ
Kevin Barry, Lincroft, NJ
Linda and Martin Panik, Mingoville, PA
Matt Sellitto, New Vernon, NJ
Ronald & Nancy May, Yerington, NV

The 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism is comprised of over 6,600 family members of those killed in the attacks of 9/11 and those injured as well.  We are united in the cause of pursuing justice and deterring future terrorist attacks.  To do so, we are using the civil legal system to pursue those who financed and provided support for those cowardly terrorist attacks.  The case is In Re Thomas E. Burnett, Sr., et al. v. Al Baraka Investment & Development Corp., et al., Case No. 03-CV-9849 (GBD); In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, 03 MDL 1570.

Justice Against Terrorism

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