Friday, March 28, 2008
Setback in Legal Anti-Terrorism Efforts
The Washington Post reports: Palestinian Authority Granted New Trial in Terrorism Damages Suit
The Palestinian Authority won a major legal victory when a federal judge, in a ruling made public yesterday, agreed to set aside a judgment of nearly $200 million awarded to American victims of Palestinian terrorist attacks in Israel and allow a new trial.
Such rulings are rare, and the judge, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero, said that he would vacate the previous legal victory only if the Palestinian Authority put up a $192.7 million bond to ensure that it does not default again if it loses in court. In a ruling Wednesday, he also ordered the Palestinians to reimburse the plaintiffs for previous legal expenses.
But Marrero's decision gives the Palestinian government hope that it can escape from lawsuits that its officials said threatened to bankrupt it. Top Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, had urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to intervene in the case...
It's a mixed bag, since the posting of bond would overcome one of the biggest issues in these cases -- the problem of collecting the money. BUT, now they've got to run the trial all over again. You can listen to my podcast interview with David Strachman, attorney for the plaintiffs, here.
A new name in the legal defense of terror is noted in the article:
Mark J. Rochon of the Washington firm Miller & Chevalier, who represented the Palestinian Authority, could not be reached for comment.
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