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Sudan funds freed for USS Cole families
After a seven-year battle seeking compensation for the families of the 17 fatal victims in the bombing of the USS Cole, the U.S. District Court in New York City paid for the Registry of the Court $13.4 million of money belonging to the Republic of Sudan. This amount satisfies a judgement entered against Sudan in July 2007.
The court had previously issued an order stating the plaintiffs were entitled to be paid, but imposed a 30-day appeal period.
When the 30-day period passed without an appeal, the funds were delivered to the lawyers for the victim’s families. The lawyers for the Cole victims are James Cooper-Hill of Rockport, Andrew Hall of Miami, and Nelson M. Jones III of Houston.
Several of the victims’ families are residents of Texas, including Gary and Deborah Swenchonis of Rockport who lost their son Gary Jr. in the attack.
The court disbursed $13,482,648.16 to the 17 families.
The judgement was limited to the lifetime wage loss of the 17 victims, pursuant to the Death on the High Seas Act.
However, President George W. Bush signed into law in January 2008 a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act which added new causes of action which supercede the Death on the High Seas Act.
The plaintiffs have a pending motion to amend the judgement to add loss of companionship and emotional distress as soon as the $13.4 million is disbursed to the families.
Of the 59 plaintiffs, which included 23 adults, including the Swenchonises, and 10 minors, will receive proceeds from the settlements. Twenty-six of the plaintiffs were not entitled to funds from the $13.4 million settlement.
Under the pending motion, additional funds are being sought. If they are awarded, the 26 plaintiffs who did not receive any of the proceeds from the $13.4 million settlement, as well as the 33 who did, will be awarded additional money.
The exact amount each of the 33 plaintiffs will receive is not known. Those funds will be divided equally after lawyer fees are deducted.
The court had previously issued an order stating the plaintiffs were entitled to be paid, but imposed a 30-day appeal period.
When the 30-day period passed without an appeal, the funds were delivered to the lawyers for the victim’s families. The lawyers for the Cole victims are James Cooper-Hill of Rockport, Andrew Hall of Miami, and Nelson M. Jones III of Houston.
Several of the victims’ families are residents of Texas, including Gary and Deborah Swenchonis of Rockport who lost their son Gary Jr. in the attack.
The court disbursed $13,482,648.16 to the 17 families.
The judgement was limited to the lifetime wage loss of the 17 victims, pursuant to the Death on the High Seas Act.
However, President George W. Bush signed into law in January 2008 a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act which added new causes of action which supercede the Death on the High Seas Act.
The plaintiffs have a pending motion to amend the judgement to add loss of companionship and emotional distress as soon as the $13.4 million is disbursed to the families.
Of the 59 plaintiffs, which included 23 adults, including the Swenchonises, and 10 minors, will receive proceeds from the settlements. Twenty-six of the plaintiffs were not entitled to funds from the $13.4 million settlement.
Under the pending motion, additional funds are being sought. If they are awarded, the 26 plaintiffs who did not receive any of the proceeds from the $13.4 million settlement, as well as the 33 who did, will be awarded additional money.
The exact amount each of the 33 plaintiffs will receive is not known. Those funds will be divided equally after lawyer fees are deducted.
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