Ethics

Judge Lets Abu Ghraib Lawsuit Go Forward

By Ed Brayton

Here's an important ruling from a federal district court.

A federal judge rejected a defense contractor's claims that it was immune from lawsuits by four alleged torture victims at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

In a ruling made public Thursday, U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee rejected claims made by Arlington, Va.-based CACI that it couldn't be sued because its interrogators were performing their duties as the government required. The company also said the case involves U.S. policy issues too sensitive for litigation.

The ruling allows four Abu Ghraib detainees - who were later released without being charged - to go forward with their lawsuit against CACI. The four allege torture and other crimes at the hands of CACI civilian interrogators hired by the Army.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on March 23, 2009 (boomark / email).