Blackwater settles lawsuits over shootings

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC/AP

RALEIGH, N.C. - The security firm formerly known as Blackwater has reached a settlement in a series of federal lawsuits in which dozens of Iraqis accused the company of cultivating a reckless culture that allowed innocent civilians to be killed.

Plaintiffs' attorney Susan Burke filed a motion in federal court late Wednesday requesting the cases be dismissed. The seven lawsuits cited a pattern of illegal activity, including several killings, such as the 2007 shooting in Iraq's capital that left 17 Iraqis dead and strained relationships between Washington and Baghdad.

...

"This enables Xe's new management to move the company forward free of the costs and distraction of ongoing litigation, and provides some compensation to Iraqi families," the company said.

‘I achieved victory’
Hassan Jabir, a lawyer who was wounded in the 2007 shooting, said that all of the victims' families and people who were injured agreed to the settlement and met with lawyers at a Baghdad hotel about a week ago. He hailed the settlement as a win for the plaintiffs.

...

Not all the plaintiffs appeared happy with the decision. Sami Hawas Hamoud Abu al-Iz also was wounded during the 2007 Nisoor Square incident along with his son. His mother was killed. He said the agreement came after the plaintiffs were told by their lawyers that there was a risk that they might not receive anything.

"All the victims' families signed the settlement papers under pressure, after we were informed that the Blackwater firm is broke and if you don't sign, you will get nothing," he said.

He said the firm offered $30,000 for each person who was wounded and $100,000 to the families of people who died.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34752336/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[tekisui]

1. Let's hope they are convicted for their Afghanistan charges.

[mikeytherat]

2. Ah, priorities:

"This enables Xe's new management to move the company forward free of the costs and distraction of ongoing litigation, and provides some compensation to Iraqi families," the company said.

Thank Jeebus the company can move forward free of the costs and distractions of litigation. Oh, and families of the dead and wounded? Here's a bone for you - now shut the f**k up and go away.

BlackXe - classy as ever.

mikey_the_rat

[sabra]

3. considering the amount they had to pay to all the families equaled about

one day pay of their contract, I would say it worked out very well for Black..Xe

[Moosepoop]

4. Blackwater is broke??

Not all the plaintiffs appeared happy with the decision. Sami Hawas Hamoud Abu al-Iz also was wounded during the 2007 Nisoor Square incident along with his son. His mother was killed. He said the agreement came after the plaintiffs were told by their lawyers that there was a risk that they might not receive anything.

"All the victims' families signed the settlement papers under pressure, after we were informed that the Blackwater firm is broke and if you don't sign, you will get nothing," he said.

Is that really the case, or were these people lied to? I can't see how Blackwater could be both broke AND prepared to continue the costs of litigation if this settlement hadn't been reached.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Morally? Yes. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

7. Might be associated with the name change

It doesn't follow that it was just a name change.

[Jamastiene]

8. There is no way they are broke.

They were lying to avoid having to pay them more and to just shut them up.

[fascisthunter]

9. Maybe They Waiting for a "Bailout"

[shadowknows69]

5. You aren't supposed to be able to buy your way out of murder.

This country is obscene.

[DeeOwl]

10. So if I got few 100k sitting around...

I can go overseas and shoot some Muslim brown folk dead and everything is copacetic?

[Turborama]

11. Glad to see that no-one's buying the name change bullshit

They will always be referred to as Blackwater, whether they like it or not.

As far as this case goes, they should not be allowed to buy themselves out of their mercenary slaughters and I hope there wasn't some nefarious escape clauses in the small print.