Blackwater suit tossed 7 years after grisly deaths

[sabra]

Source: AP

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit that blamed the security company formerly known as Blackwater for the deaths of four contractors killed in a grisly 2004 ambush on the restive streets of Iraq.

U.S. District Judge James C. Fox said court-ordered arbitration fell apart because neither side was paying the costs of that process, so he decided to shut the case nearly seven years after the killings. Katy Helvenston, the mother of contractor Scott Helvenston, said Tuesday the families couldn't afford the costs, and she fears the case is over. The lawsuit was filed about a year after the men's deaths.

"It's pretty much destroyed my life," Helvenston said. "I haven't known one moment of joy since Scotty was slaughtered. I think the worst party is the betrayal from my country. I feel so betrayed."

Insurgents killed the four contractors, then mutilated the bodies, dragged the charred remains through the streets and hung two of the corpses from a bridge. Images from the scene were relayed around the world, and the event triggered a massive U.S. military siege known as the Battle of Fallujah.

Survivors of the contractors contend Blackwater failed to prepare the men for their mission and didn't provide them with appropriate equipment, such as a map. Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague were sent in Mitsubishi SUVs to guard a supply convoy. Their survivors argued they should have been given armored vehicles.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gYfIIgvfJyhmcl1YOfoBuyp8QXrQ?docId=eed3a810358841b096d31b108606c7a2

[SpiralHawk]

1. Blackwater (R) demonstrates total disrespect for...

men and women in service....soooo republicon...

[Lindsay]

2. Justice

for those who can afford it.

:cry:

[defendandprotect]

3. Took 7 years to get a judge they liked ... !!

[FedUpWithIt All]

4. I had briefly met one of the mothers a few years ago.

There is a pain there that will never go away. It is difficult to imagine what happens to a woman after enduring the image of their child being killed like that.


I am very sad that the lawsuit has been dismissed.

[indimuse]

5. Meet your *NEW* world army! n/t

[robinlynne]

6. I wonder who appointed that judge?

[texastoast]

7. stupid application of sovereign immunity

The corporations rule this country. It is just getting worse. We have to stop participating in these wars.

[Rex]

8. Justice will not be served, Xe pulled a Microsoft maneuver.

Outspend the plaintiffs and eventually they will go broke compared to the billion dollar enterprise. Expect this kind of thing in the years to come to become more frequent, not less.