U.S. government blocks lawsuits by Sept. 11 victims

[Robbien]

New York — U.S. officials and insurance companies representing victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks are locked in an unusual legal standoff, stemming from the government's refusal to admit it has the alleged mastermind of the attacks in custody.

<snip>

The stalemate stems from a huge case comprising lawsuits brought by families of the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Joining them are subsidiaries of Chubb Corp. and other insurance companies trying to recover more than $5-billion for property damage and workers' compensation, plus $200-billion in punitive damages.

The lawsuit seeks damages from the governments of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan; al-Qaeda, Egyptian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist networks and Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and Saudi royalty. Also named as defendants are Mr. Mohammed, the suspected No. 3 al-Qaeda leader arrested in Pakistan in March 2003; Ramzi Binalshibh, an alleged co-ordinator of the Sept. 11 attacks and about a dozen other terror suspects believed held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or other U.S. military outposts.

The government has agreed to deliver summonses to only those defendants held by the Federal Bureau of Prisons or U.S. Marshals Service. It has refused to serve papers on defendants held in secret, citing previous rulings involving demands from news organizations and public-interest groups that the government disclose the names of detainees.

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040423.wlawss23/BNStory/International/

[ButterflyBlood]

1. the supposed mastermind?

please tell me they don't mean Saddam...

[Old and In the Way]

2. The Mohammed guy...but there's some question as to whether

the guy in custody is who the government claims.

[frankly_fedup2]

3. Doesn't Jim "we've counted all the votes" Baker represent . . .

the Saudis with his law firm against the widows and widowers from 911? I read it somewhere but not sure where. Will try to find a link.

Also, I thought that if they did not accept any of the charitable contributions that were distributed, then they could file lawsuits? Will have to try to find that too.

As usual, the American People get screwed.

[Robbien]

4. Yes, you are right about Jim Baker

I heard it first on AirAmerica, and some DUers confirmed that for me.

If this lawsuit only dealt with the 911 families, then there would be no way they have a chance. But now that the insurance companies are joining with the families, BushCo will have to decide whether they want to piss off one of their biggest contributors.

[NMLobo]

5. His name is Mohammed

So he must be guilty.;)

[Lori Price CLG]

7. Well, they sure can't mean Bush, LOL! Cheney-Rove, etc..

When uttering the word 'mastermind,' ...they surely can't be thinking about Bush. (His terror team was capable of carrying out the 9-11 terrorist attacks, though.)
:)-Lori

[teryang]

6. Why hasn't the government moved to dismiss

...for reasons of state? Bringing subpoenas to people to Khalid Sheik Mohammed (who may not even be alive) is going to bring the whole 911 fraud tumbling down.