FISA too late, Iraqi families sue Blackwater.

Iraqis who lost family in the Blackwater massacre and the man who was wounded have filed lawsuits against Blackwater for their actions on Sept. 16, 2007. This story, from the Washington Post, outlines the charges against Blackwater. When I saw the story, I grinned to myself thinking, so this is what that FISA add-on is all about. If they prevail in the suit, there will be thousands more, I am sure. We may not get our money back from Blackwater, but the Iraqis who were injured by them may get a good chunk of it. I wish them all the luck in the world with their suit. Rest of the story below the jump.

They filed in Washington DC, according to the article.

Attorneys for Talib Mutlaq Deewan, who was injured in the shootings at Nisoor Square, and the families of Himoud Saed Atban, Osama Fadhil Abbas and Oday Ismail Ibraheem, who were killed, filed the lawsuit this morning in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asking for an unspecified amount of money to compensate for alleged war crimes, illegal killings, wrongful death, emotional distress and negligence. The lawsuit names Blackwater USA, The Prince Group and Blackwater founder and CEO Erik Prince as defendants.

Judge Reggie B. Walton is hearing the case. The case could take years. There is another similar case arising from abuse by contractors of Iraqis at Abu Graib that is still in court.

The Nisoor Square lawsuit focuses on the alleged "recklessness" of the Blackwater security contractors and seeks to punish the company for its "mercenary" tactics in the war zone that have led to "repeated callous killings of innocents," according to a complaint.

"Blackwater created and fostered a culture of lawlessness amongst its employees, encouraging them to act in the company's financial interests at the expense of innocent human life," the 16-page complaint says. "This action seeks compensatory damages to compensate the injured and the families of those gunned down and killed."

Naturally, Blackwater has no comment because it's an ongoing investigation.

This is why Bush wants immunity for the corporations involved in the Iraqi war. I know that this is not news to anyone here at DKos, but I thought the timing was very interesting.

Now if only someone would sue Halliburton, we could all go to sleep with a smile, at least once. Imagine how worried Cheney would be if people starting suing his retirement plan!! I am sure that the corporate immunity idea came from him.

This isn't a very long diary, but the timing on this law suit was so interesting, I was sure you all would want to hear about it.

•  Tip Jar :)

  I am rooting for the Iraqis. Let all the crap about Blackwater come out in court, on public record. Then let's see Bush explain hiring them to the American people. Or any Republican, for that matter. Heh.

  by Demfem on Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 12:36:37 PM PDT

•  Hit the mercs where it really hurts:

  the money.

  by Lepanto on Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 12:42:10 PM PDT

  •  Nope. The power

    I don't think Blackwater cares too much about the money in the end. For them, it's about power and establishing a major mercenary army. Some people have suggested, in order to reuse the same mercs domestically.

    And in any case, the money involved in the lawsuit is minor. And they'll probably get reimbursed for it to boot.

    by sdgeek on Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 02:09:24 PM PDT

•  I hope it backrupts the owners

  and they have to shut down. Just what they deserve.

  by Owllwoman on Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 12:44:06 PM PDT

•  Different corporations

  As far as I understand it, the immunity being discussed would protect AT&T and Verizon for their involvement with the NSA spying scandal.

  Also, if immunity did pass, it would cause the lawsuit to be thrown out even after the suit was filed. So there is nothing special about the timing.

  by sdgeek on Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 02:07:43 PM PDT

  •  I said it was interesting,

    I didn't mean it was planned with an eye on the legislation. But it is interesting to see what steps will be taken to protect Blackwater. And whether or not BushCo will try to extend the protection to other corporations participating in the "war on terror". I am cynical enough to think that is exactly what will happen. I am glad you aren't. :D

    by Demfem on Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 04:54:34 PM PDT