KBR Tries to Convince Judge to Use Iraqi Law in Shower Death of Green Beret

[The Straight Story]

KBR Tries to Convince Judge to Use Iraqi Law in Shower Death of Green Beret

Defense contractor KBR is trying to get out of a lawsuit stemming from the death of a U.S. soldier by claiming that Iraqi, not American, law should apply in determining a verdict.

The civil case was filed in a Pennsylvania court against KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton, over the death of Army Sergeant Ryan Maseth, who was electrocuted while taking a shower on his base in Iraq. KBR was named the plaintiff by Maseth’s parents because the company held a maintenance contract from the Department of Defense for upkeep of the military installation.

The electrocution occurred after a water pump shorted out near the showers Maseth was using at the time.

If KBR convinces the judge to apply Iraqi law to the case, the company stands a good chance of avoiding any responsibility for the soldier’s death. Also, Iraqi law does not allow for punitive damages.

http://www.allgov.com/US_and_the_World/ViewNews/KBR_Tries_to_Convince_Judge_to_Use_Iraqi_Law_in_Shower_Death_of_Green_Beret_110209

[mod mom]

1. disgusting!

[hobbit709]

2. I'd go along with that if KBR was tried for EVERYTHING they did in Iraq

under Iraqi law. Could get interesting.

[Disintermedia8]

5. At this point I'd settle for not giving them more taxpayer dollars

to conduct their crime spree.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Which "Iraqi law" are we talking about?

The "law" as it existed under Saddam or the "law" that was developed in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion/occupation by Bremer and the mysteriously constituted CPA?

[Octafish]

3. There were many -- at least 18 -- ''electrocution by shower'' of US service members in Iraq

Scroll down for the AP article:

http://jonathanturley.org/2009/01/23/death-of-sgt-maseth-in-kbr-shower-incident-re-classified-from-accidental-to-negligent-homicide/

[Submariner]

4. Un-American Republican war-profiteers showing how patriotism

means nothing to them. Only how many dollars KBR can steal has any meaning to this Cheney outfit. May they all die of painful bleeding rectal cancer. That's the best I can hope for with scumbags like these right-wingers.

[The Doctor.]

7. These assholes don't get it.

The laws that allow people to sue for negligence aren't there as a nuisance to businesses, they exist to protect those businesses from extra-legal retribution.

It might not happen too often, but once all legal recourse is taken away, people will continue to seek recourse. I know damn well I wouldn't rest if some corporation was responsible for a family member's death. I'd sure the hell find out who made the decision that caused it and who worked to cover it up.

Then I would decide what to do about it. Legal action would be first. If they were very lucky, it would be the last.

[sufrommich]

8. Iraq has laws? nt

[frylock]

9. WWSD?

what would saddam do? i'm all for the execution of these shitstains.