Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP has developed an active, successful, and unique practice in obtaining monetary relief for victims of international terrorism and their loved ones. Members of the team have tried to judgment eight cases in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in this area, and have several more cases pending in that court or at the pre-litigation investigation or administrative stage.

Representative matters handled by our team include lawsuits by former hostages held in Lebanon against the Islamic Republic of Iran; lawsuits by other victims of terrorism against Libya for aircraft sabotage and political assassination; administrative and legislative efforts involving claims by victims of the bombing of the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya; claims against Iran by victims of the bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983; and proceedings arising from terrorist activities in several other foreign countries. Team members also have actively participated as lead counsel or amici counsel in several civil terrorism cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Terrorism proceedings involve complex application of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 USC. §§ 1602, et seq.; the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 USC. §§ 2671, et seq.; the Torture Victims Protection Act of 1991, 28 USC. § 1350 note; the Export Administration Act of 1979, 50 USC. § 2405(j); the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 22 USC. § 2371; the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, 28 USC. 1605 § (a)(7); the Alien Tort Claim Act, 28 USC. § 1350; and the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386. Team members have substantial experience in these statutes, and their application to possible avenues of monetary redress for damages suffered as the result of international terrorism. In fact, Crowell & Moring LLP played a substantial role in the enactment of the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2000, which led to the payment of several of the above-mentioned compensatory damages judgments against Iran.

Representative Engagements

• Doe v. The Islamic Republic of Iran et al. This is an action brought by over 240 foreign national victims and their family members against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian Ministry of Information and Security for their sponsorship of Hezbollah's bombings of the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983 and 1984. The victims were employees of the U.S. Embassy during these two attacks, many of whom were injured or killed. The Plaintiffs seek $12 billion in compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants.
• Anderson v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., 90 F. Supp. 2d 107 (D.D.C. 2000). This is an action brought by former hostage Terry Anderson and his family for damages resulting from his March 1985 kidnapping and nearly seven years of being held hostage in Lebanese dungeons by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Crowell & Moring LLP obtained a judgment for Anderson and his family of more than $41 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.
• Sutherland v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., 151 F. Supp. 2d 27 (D.D.C. 2001). This is an action brought by former hostage Thomas M. Sutherland and his family for damages arising from his June 1985 kidnapping and his six and one-half years of being held hostage in various Lebanese dungeons by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the time he was kidnapped, Sutherland was Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the American University in Beirut. In June 2001, Crowell & Moring obtained a judgment from the Court for Sutherland and his family of more than $53 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.
• Polhill v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15322 (D.D.C. 2001). This is an action brought by the estate of former hostage Robert Polhill and his family for damages resulting from his January 1987 kidnapping and thirty-nine months of being held hostage in Lebanese dungeons by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mr. Polhill died in July 1999. In August 2001, Crowell & Moring obtained a judgment for the Polhill estate and family of $31.5 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.
• Wagner v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., 172 F. Supp. 2d 128 (D.D.C. 2001). This is an action brought by the estate of Petty Officer First Class Michael R. Wagner (USN) and his family for his death and damages resulting from the September 20, 1984 terrorist car bomb attack at the American Embassy Annex in Beirut, Lebanon. That attack was performed by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Crowell & Moring obtained a judgment for the Wagner estate and family of $16.7 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.
• Kerr v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 245 F. Supp. 2d 59 (D.D.C. 2003). This is an action brought by the family of Malcolm Kerr who was the President of the American University of Beirut when he was assassinated by members of the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hizbollah on January 18, 1984. Crowell & Moring obtained a judgment for the Kerr estate and family of more than $33 million in compensatory damages.
• Kilburn v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., 277 F. Supp. 2d 24 (D.D.C. 2003), affirmed 2004 WL1698198, _F. 3d_ (D.C. Cir. July 30, 2004). This is an action brought by the Estate of Peter Kilburn and his brother, Blake Kilburn for damages against the Islamic Republic of Iran and Libya. In late 1984, Peter Kilburn, who was a Librarian at the American University in Beirut, was kidnapped and held hostage by agents of Iran. In April 1986, President Reagan bombed Tripoli, Libya in retaliation for the Libyan sponsored bombing of a Berlin nightclub that resulted in the deaths of American servicemen. In response to the Tripoli bombing, Libyan agents purchased Peter Kilburn from his kidnappers and assassinated him along with two British citizens. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently affirmed the Distrcit Court’s denial of Libya’s motion to dismiss, rejecting all claims of sovereign immunity.
• Regier v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., Civil Action No. 01-1302-JDB (D.D.C.). This is an action brought by Frank Regier and his family for damages against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This case arises from Regier's February 1984 kidnapping and the sixty-five days he was held hostage by agents of Iran. At the time he was kidnapped, Regier was Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department at American University in Beirut. Regier and a French hostage, Christian Joubert, were rescued by the Lebanese Amal on Palm Sunday 1984. The case was tried in November 2002 and a decision is pending.
• Weir v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., Civil Action No. 01-1303-TPJ (D.D.C.) This is an action brought by former hostage Reverend Benjamin Weir and his family for damages arising from his May 1984 kidnapping and 495 days of being held hostage. Reverend Weir had served as a Presbyterian missionary in Lebanon for more than 30 years at the time he was kidnapped. For most of the period he was held hostage, Weir was held in solitary confinement in various dungeons in Lebanon. He was released in September 1985 as the first hostage released under the Reagan Administration’s Iran-Contra “arms-for-hostages” program. Crowell & Moring obtained a judgment for Weir and his family of nearly $11.5 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.
• Dammarell, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., Civil Action No.01-2224-JDB (D.D.C.). This case arises from the April 1983 bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon by the Iranian-backed Hizbollah. The more than seventy plaintiffs in this case are United States citizen victims (many of whom were killed or injured) and family members. In Phase I of this case, the court found Iran liable (281 F. Supp. 2d 105), (D.D.C. 2003) and a final judgement in Phase II is expected.
• Pugh v. Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, et al., 290 F. Supp. 2d 54 (D.D.C. 2003), appeal pending, No. 03-7172 (D.C. Cir.), oral argument scheduled for November 19, 2004. This is a case on behalf of the estates and families of the seven United States citizens killed on UTA flight 772, when it exploded in flight over Niger while traveling from Chad to France in September 1989. Subsequent legal proceedings and investigations in France determined that Libya and its agents instigated the mid-flight bombing via a suitcase bomb that had been loaded onto the plane. Several Libyan agents were tried and convicted in absentia in Paris.
• Dodge v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., Civil Action No. 03-252-TPJ (D.D.C.). This is a case brought by David Dodge and members of his family. Mr. Dodge was the acting President of the American University of Beirut when he was kidnapped in July 1982. He was held hostage for several months in Lebanon before being transported to Tehran and held hostage several more months in an Iranian prison. He was released in July, 1983. The case was recently tried and a judgment is expected shortly.
• Bartley, et al. v. US Department of State. This is an administrative claim pending before the United States Department of State in which C&M represents ten of the eleven American families who were victims in the August 7, 1998 terrorist bombing of the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Amici Counsel: Crowell & Moring has served or is serving as amici counsel in three cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in cases presenting terrorism issues. These cases are:

Price v. Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, 294 F. 3d 82 (D.C. Cir. 2002)
Roeder v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 333 F. 3d 228 (D.C. Cir. 2003)
Cicippio-Puleo v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 353 F. 3d 1026 (D.C. Cir. 2004) 

Diversity at Crowell & Moring

At Crowell & Moring, our success as a firm depends on creating and maintaining a diverse team of talented professionals. Different perspectives, histories, and experiences don't just make us interesting as individuals; they also make us stronger as a firm. Diversity is one of our core values, and we approach it holistically. We view diversity as encompassing race, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, personal appearance, political affiliation, marital status, family responsibilities, disability and status as a veteran, and other personal characteristics protected by law and regulation.