Judge tosses lawsuits against Blackwater, now Xe (but will allow plaintiffs to refile their claims)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge on Wednesday tossed out a series of lawsuits filed by alleged Iraqi victims of the contractor once known as Blackwater USA, but is allowing the plaintiffs to refile their claims.

In a 56-page ruling Wednesday, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III in Alexandria, Va., dismissed claims filed by 64 plaintiffs _ including the estates of 19 people who died _ who says Blackwater employees engaged in indiscriminate killings and beatings. The lawsuits also claim the company, now known as Xe, "fostered a culture of lawlessness" while it held a State Department contract to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq.

Ellis is allowing most of the plaintiffs to refile, but only if they will be able to prove that employees engaged in intentional killings and beatings. He said a pattern of recklessness or a culture of lawlessness is not enough to sustain an allegation of war crimes under the federal law that governs the issue, the Alien Tort Statute.

Xe's lawyers had argued that the lawsuits should be dismissed under any circumstances because the allegations involve political questions that cannot be resolved by the judiciary and because private entities cannot be sued under the Alien Tort Statute. Ellis rejected those arguments.



Read more: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php?nid=29&sid=1791410

[Blandocyte]

1. Xe?

WTF. Isn't the X a symbol for the word "Christ", that goes back to the Greek? Somebody learned in these matter hepp me, please.

[vaberella]

3. I just looked it up...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas

X is for Christ but really Chi in the Greek Alphabet. But the Nicean council and president figures of papacy still speak and write Latin, not to say it's any different. But the X is a bastardization of Christ. A religious zealot like those lots may not be using it in that sense. Maybe taking it from XP (crusade signs- if I remember correctly). Whatever, I care less about the name and care more about the actions. The creator of Xe nee Blackwater has never made it a secret that he is a Christianity freak who wants to rid the world of muslims.

[vaberella]

2. Damnit.

See nothing strong enough to stick.

[Jefferson23]

4. To prove "intent", how is that accomplished in a situation like this?

Any lawyers out there, wish to weigh in, I would appreciate the comments. Is this need for proving intent have anything to do with the 8th amendment?

[lonestarnot]

5. Guess he didn't like the bad press. Snort.

:rofl: On edit, we have a Judge on the Superior Court bench here in AZ who refused to let a woman leave a domestically violent partner to another state. The dude killed her, her mother, and himself. Why do some in authority hate women?