Overview
Cohen Milstein is litigating three lawsuits against the Islamic Republic of Iran for its alleged involvement in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, which was carried out by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, allegedly at the direction and with the support of Iran. The Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing, which killed 241 American servicemembers and injured numerous others, was the deadliest state-sponsored terrorist attack against United States citizens before September 11, 2001.
The three lawsuits are filed under the the state-sponsored terrorism exception in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which allows citizens to sue foreign countries if they are victims of state-sponsored terror.
To date, Iran has not participated in any of the lawsuits, making the any ruling a default judgment. However, under the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the plaintiffs can receive compensatory damages.
Important Dates & Rulings
- On June 10, 2024, the Honorable Carl J. Nichols of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Republic of Iran to pay $239 million to 25 military servicemembers and families of service members who were injured or killed in the 1983 bombing.
- On February 19, 2022, the Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Republic of Iran to pay $337.9 million to 35 military service members and families of service members who were injured or killed in in the 1983 bombing.
- On December 9, 2020, the Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Republic of Iran to pay $24.8 million to two military service members and families of service members who were injured or killed in in the 1983 bombing.
- On February 28, 2018, the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth, for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, ordered the Republic of Iran to pay $920 million to 80 families of soldiers and other military service members who were killed or injured in the 1983 bombing.
Case Background
Cohen Milstein filed the first lawsuit in 2014 in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act against the Iranian government on behalf of more than 80 family members of soldiers who were killed or injured in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as soldiers who were injured in the attack. The attack was carried out by the terrorist organization Hezbollah, at the direction and with the support of Iran.
The three cases are Relvas, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., filed in 2014, DiBenedetto, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., filed in 2016; and Encinas, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., filed in 2018.