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Abu Ghraib Detainees Awarded $42 Million
A US jury awarded $42 million to three former Abu Ghraib detainees, holding military contractor CACI responsible for their torture and mistreatment.
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JusticeHuman Rights ViolationsUs PoliticsMiddle EastMilitaryLawsuitAccountabilityTorture
CaciCenter For Constitutional RightsUs Army
Suhail Al ShimariSalah Al-EjailiAsa’ad Al-ZubaeSteven Stefanowicz
- What was the history of the lawsuit?
- The lawsuit, initially filed in 2008, faced 15 years of legal battles and attempts by CACI to dismiss the case. The trial and retrial were the first time a US jury heard claims from Abu Ghraib survivors.
- What was CACI's response to the verdict?
- CACI expressed disappointment with the verdict and plans to appeal, maintaining that no CACI employee was ever charged in the matter and denying responsibility for the events. They argued the Army, not CACI, bore liability under the "borrowed servants" doctrine.
- What was the outcome of the lawsuit against CACI?
- A US jury awarded $42 million to three former detainees of Abu Ghraib prison, holding CACI, a military contractor, responsible for contributing to their torture and mistreatment. The jury found CACI complicit because its interrogators conspired with military police to "soften up" detainees.
- What was the significance of the financial award?
- The $42 million awarded fully matches the amount sought by the plaintiffs and exceeds the $31 million CACI was paid to supply interrogators to Abu Ghraib. Plaintiff Al-Ejaili called the victory a "shining light for everyone who has been oppressed."
- What were the allegations made by the three plaintiffs?
- The three plaintiffs, Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili, and Asa’ad Al-Zubae, testified about beatings, sexual abuse, forced nudity, and other cruel treatment. They argued CACI was complicit, even if its interrogators didn't directly inflict the abuse.