Estate of Heiser v. Islamic Republic of Iran

466 F. Supp. 2d 229, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92640, 2006 WL 3755199
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedDecember 22, 2006
DocketCivil Action 00-2329 (RCL), 01-2104(RCL)
StatusPublished
Cited by196 cases

This text of 466 F. Supp. 2d 229 (Estate of Heiser v. Islamic Republic of Iran) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Estate of Heiser v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 466 F. Supp. 2d 229, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92640, 2006 WL 3755199 (D.D.C. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LAMBERTH, District Judge.

BACKGROUND

These actions arise from the June 25, 1996 bombing at Khobar Towers, a residence on a United States military base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The plaintiffs in this consolidated action are the family members and estates of 17 of the 19 servicemen killed in the attack. Plaintiffs allege that the Islamic Republic of Iran (“Iran”), the Iranian Ministry of Information and Security (“MOIS”), the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (“IRGC” or “the Pasdaran”), and “John Does 1-99” are liable for damages from the attack because they provided material support and assistance to Hezbollah, 1 the terrorist organization that orchestrated and carried out the bombing. 2 Plaintiffs have relied upon causes of action founded upon provisions of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), inter alia, 28 U.S.C. § 1605(a)(7).

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In their second amended complaints, plaintiffs named as defendants (1) the Islamic Republic of Iran; (2) the Iranian Ministry of Information and Security (“MOIS”); (3) the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC” or “the Pasdaran”); (4) and “John Does l-99[.]” Second Amended Complaints, ¶ 1; see also id., ¶¶ 24, 25, 27, 29. Plaintiffs • sought damages for wrongful death (Count I); *249 survival action (Count II); “economic damages” (Count III); intentional infliction of emotional distress (Count IV); for plaintiffs Ibis S. Haun, Marie R. Campbell, ShyrI L. Johnson, Katie L. Marthaler and Dawn Woody, loss of consortium (Count V); solatium (Count VI); and “punitive damages” (Count VII).

Plaintiffs requested judgment in their favor against all of the defendants. In addition, the plaintiffs in Civil Action No. 00-2329 sought compensatory damages against all defendants in the amount of $890,000,000, “plus economic damages in an amount to be determined at trial for each of Decedents’ Estates”; punitive damages against defendants MOIS, the IRGC and John Does 1-99 in the amount of $500,000,000; and reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees. The plaintiffs in Civil Action No. 01-2104 sought compensatory damages against all defendants in the amount of $3,660,000,000 “plus economic damages in an amount to be determined at trial for each of Decedents’ Estates”; punitive damages against defendants MOIS, the IRGC and John Does 1-99 in the amount of $500,000,000; and reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees.

On February 1, 2002, the court (Jackson, J.) consolidated the two civil actions, and in Civil Action No. 00-2329, granted the plaintiffs’ motion for entry of default as to defendants Islamic Republic of Iran, MOIS and the IRGC. February 1, 2002 Order (Docket No. 9, Civil Action No. 00-2329) at 1. On February 6, 2002, the Clerk entered a default in Civil Action No. GO-2329 against defendants Islamic Republic of Iran, MOIS and the IRGC. Default (Docket No. 10, Civil Action No. 00-2329). On July 30, 2002, both actions were referred to Magistrate Judge Robinson for all purposes. (July 30, 2002 Order (Docket No. 11) at 1.) On October 4, 2002, Magistrate Judge Robinson granted plaintiffs’ motion in Civil Action No. 01-2104 for entry of default as to defendants Islamic Republic of Iran, MOIS and the IRGC. (October 4, 2002 Order (Docket No. 11, Civil Action No. 01-2104) at 1.) On October 8, 2002, the Clerk entered a default in Civil Action No. 01-2104 against defendants Islamic Republic of Iran, MOIS and the IRGC. Default (Docket No. 12, Civil Action No. 01-2104) at 1. On March 14, 2003, plaintiffs moved for a continuance of the hearing on liability and damages. Plaintiffs’ counsel represented that counsel “has learned that certain immediate family members of the soldiers killed in the Khobar Towers terrorist attack' — family members who have cognizable claims under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (‘FSIA’) — are not currently named as parties in these consolidated actions.” (Motion for Continuance of Trial Date and Request for Scheduling Conference (Docket No. 16) at 2.) Counsel further represented that the firm “is in the process of identifying all such family members and anticipates filing amended complaints within the next several weeks.” Id. Magistrate Judge Robinson granted plaintiffs’ motion, and, in accordance with the request of plaintiffs’ counsel, “tentatively” scheduled the hearing for “the period of December 1, 2003 to December 18, 2003[.]” (March 17, 2003 Order (Docket No. 17) at 1.) Plaintiffs filed their second amended complaints on May 6, 2003.

Upon consideration of plaintiffs’ motions to vacate their consent to proceed before a magistrate judge for all purposes and to clarify the purpose of the referral to a magistrate judge, the court re-referred the consolidated civil actions to Magistrate Judge Robinson “to hear and determine pretrial matters as permitted thereby, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), to conduct hearings, and to submit proposed findings and recommendations for the dis *250 position by the Court of any motion for judgment by default upon the evidence submitted in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1608(e).” (Docket No. [20] at 1-2.) The Court denied plaintiffs’ motion for clarification of the referral. (August 22, 2003 Order (Docket No. 25) at 1.) On September 3, 2003, Magistrate Judge Robinson scheduled the hearing on liability and damages for December 1 through December 18, 2003. (September 3, 2003 Order (Docket No. 26) at 1.)

Plaintiffs filed their pretrial statement on October 31, 2003 ((Docket No. 30).) In accordance with Magistrate Judge Robinson’s Final Pretrial Order (Docket No. 32), plaintiffs filed a memorandum regarding issues relevant to liability. See Supplemental Bench Memorandum on Liability Issues (“Memorandum on Liability”) (Docket No. 33). In the memorandum, plaintiffs stated that they “do not expect to identify [Defendants] John Does 1-99 before the commencement of the trial[,]” and that “[accordingly, Plaintiffs will not seek a finding of liability against the co-conspirators John Does 1-99, who were named as defendants when the complaints in this consolidated action were filed.” (Memorandum on Liability at 9.) On November 19, 2003, plaintiffs moved for entry of default against the Islamic Republic of Iran, MOIS and the IRGC. (Plaintiffs’ Motion for Entry of Default (Docket No. 38) at 1.) The Court granted the motion. November 26, 2003 Order. (Docket No. 39, Civil Action No. 00-2329; Docket No. 32, Civil Action No. 01-2104.)

Plaintiffs examined witnesses and offered other evidence with respect to liability and damages on December 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19, 2003. On December 19, 2003, plaintiffs moved to voluntarily dismiss Defendants “John Does 1-99,” and Magistrate Judge Robinson granted the motion. (December 19, 2003 Tr. (Docket No. 128) at 69-70.) The magistrate judge recessed the hearing until February 5, 2004, the earliest date that plaintiffs’ counsel, plaintiffs’ witnesses and the court were be available to continue.

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Bluebook (online)
466 F. Supp. 2d 229, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92640, 2006 WL 3755199, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-heiser-v-islamic-republic-of-iran-dcd-2006.