Appeals court hears from US military contractor ordered to pay $42M to former Abu Ghraib detainees
Share and Follow


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court was scheduled to hear oral arguments Tuesday about an appeal from a U.S. military contractor ordered to pay $42 million for contributing to the torture and mistreatment of three former detainees at Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison two decades ago.

Reston, Virginia-based CACI appealed last year’s civil lawsuit verdict to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili and Asa’ad Al-Zubae testified at last year’s trial that that they were subjected to beatings, sexual abuse, forced nudity and other cruel treatment at the prison during the U.S. occupation of Iraq. A jury awarded them $3 million each in compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages.

The three did not allege that CACI’s interrogators explicitly inflicted the abuse themselves, but argued CACI was complicit because its interrogators conspired with military police to “soften up” detainees for questioning with harsh treatment.

CACI supplied the interrogators who worked at the prison. It has denied any wrongdoing and has emphasized throughout 17 years of litigation that its employees are not alleged to have inflicted any abuse on the plaintiffs in the case.

Photos of the abuse released in 2004 showed naked prisoners stacked into pyramids or dragged by leashes. Photos included a soldier smiling and giving a thumbs-up while posing next to a corpse, detainees being threatened with dogs, and a detainee hooded and attached to electrical wires.

Military police seen in the photos smiling and laughing as they directed the abuse were convicted in military courts-martial. But none of the civilian interrogators from CACI ever faced criminal charges, even though military investigations concluded that several CACI interrogators had engaged in wrongdoing.

Last year’s civil trial and subsequent retrial were the first time a U.S. jury heard claims brought by Abu Ghraib detainees in the 20 years since the photos shocked the world.

None of the three plaintiffs were in any of photos but they described treatment very similar to what was depicted.

The $42 million they were awarded fully matches the amount sought by the plaintiffs. It’s also more than the $31 million that the plaintiffs said CACI was paid to supply interrogators to Abu Ghraib.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
13-year-old in the US illegally denied release after alleged gang ties come to light following school threat

Controversy Erupts: US Denies Release of 13-Year-Old Amid Alleged Gang Links and School Threats

A young Brazilian boy, reportedly entangled in a life of crime and…
ICE nabs 3-time deported illegal alien charged with assaulting a police officer: 'GOOD RIDDANCE'

ICE Apprehends Repeat Offender Accused of Assaulting Officer

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revealed that Immigration and Customs…
Top CBS News star QUITS without explanation as new boss cleans house

Prominent CBS News Anchor Unexpectedly Resigns Amidst Leadership Overhaul

In a surprising turn of events, John Dickerson, the CBS Evening News…
Birmingham man arrested after Homewood police chase results in crash

Birmingham Resident Apprehended Following High-Speed Pursuit and Collision in Homewood

In Homewood, Alabama, a suspect linked to a series of vehicle break-ins…
The viral video of a masked trio terrorizing a home? It was a prank, police say.

Viral ‘Masked Trio’ Home Terror Video Exposed as Harmless Prank, Confirm Police

Three teenage boys attempted a prank on their relatives, according to police…
Trump defies 'America First' agenda with Argentina beef plan

Trump’s Surprising Shift: How the Argentina Beef Deal Challenges the ‘America First’ Agenda

In a surprising shift from his “America First” trade principles, President Donald…
Woman gets max sentence for murder of 3-year-old in Ohio store parking lot

Ohio Tragedy: Woman Receives Maximum Sentence for Heartbreaking Murder of Toddler in Parking Lot

In a Cleveland courtroom on Monday morning, a judge delivered the harshest…
Jamaica braces for Hurricane Melissa: strongest storm on Earth in 2025

Jamaica Prepares for the Impact of 2025’s Most Powerful Storm, Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa has escalated into a formidable Category 5 storm as it…