Challenging immunity

Lower courts to hear Iraqi civilians' claims of beatings, forced nudity, broken bones, and rape

Center for Constitutional Rights reports (May 15^th): Today, a federal appellate court dismissed the appeals of two private military contractors who had argued they were immune from litigation when they engage in torture. The corporate defendants, CACI and L-3, have argued that they should receive the same protections as the United States government and that, therefore, any of their wartime activities - including torture - are similarly beyond review of the courts.

The corporate defendants in the consolidated cases, who were hired to provide interpretation and interrogation services, are alleged to have subjected the plaintiffs to electric shocks, rape and other forms of sexual assault, forced nudity, broken bones, and deprivation of oxygen, food and water. The two cases were brought on behalf of 76 Iraqis who were subjected to brutal, sadistic acts in detention centers Iraq by employees of the corporate defendants.

http://warisacrime.org/content/lower-courts-hear-iraqi-civilians-claims-beatings-forced-nudity-broken-bones-and-rape-hands-