Halliburton, KBR drop court appeal in rape case- Thank you Sen. Franken

[Ichingcarpenter]

HOUSTON — Halliburton Co. and KBR Inc. have withdrawn an appeal asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a lawsuit by a former military contractor who says she was raped by KBR co-workers in Iraq.

KBR said in a statement Monday that it withdrew the appeal to not risk violating a recently passed federal provision it called "very broad and vague," that restricts the Defense Department from doing business with companies that prohibit employees from seeking redress for certain crimes through the courts.



"As a result, KBR did not want to risk being in violation of the amendment, so the company withdrew its petition," KBR said in a statement.

Diana Gabriel, a spokeswoman for Halliburton, also confirmed the appeal was withdrawn but declined to elaborate.

Jamie Leigh Jones, of Texas, sued the companies after she says she was raped while working for KBR in Baghdad in 2005. KBR and Halliburton split in 2007.

The companies argued that Jones' contract required claims against them be settled through arbitration.
But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sided with Jones in September, saying her case could go to trial.
A trial date has been set for May 2011, Jones' attorney Todd Kelly said.

Now that the Supreme Court appeal has been withdrawn, "it looks like we're headed for trial," said Kelly, who is based in Houston.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6925286.html

[upi402]

1. k/r n/t

[mucifer]

2. kick

[upi402]

3. Kick to thank Senator Franken

:patriot:

[Starry Messenger]

4. Good.

I hope she finally gets justice.

[Scurrilous]

5. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Cal33]

6. Won't this case eventually get to the Supreme Court anyway?

Halliburton and KBR sure have enough money to appeal again,
should they be found guilty by the lower court.

[Odin2005]

7. K&R

[strategery blunder]

8. Good. Arbitrating criminal law is utter lunacy.

Criminal law is MUCH better handled in a court, whether Halliburton likes it or not.

I hope Ms. Jones is able to find justice.

Edit: can't spell