Families of Pan Am Crash Victims Sue Libya
April 30, 2001
Now that the criminal trial against the Libyan terrorist who brought down Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988 is over, more than 40 families of deceased victims are suing the Libyan government for damages. The families allege that Libya helped organize and finance the Pan Am terrorists and as such the country should be held fully accountable for the crash. The suit seeks $20 billion in damages. "The civil action, unlike the criminal case, specifically addresses the culpability of the government of Libya and its top leadership," an attorney for the group noted. "We also want to send a message to state sponsors of terrorism that if you murder an American, you will be called to pay both criminally and civilly," he said, adding: "A large amount is necessary to ensure the message is felt."
The lawsuit against Libya should be easier to win than a criminal conviction as the families only have to prove that it is more likely than not that Libya was responsible for the crash. "I'll tell you this, in a US civil court, it'll be drop-dead easy to convict Libya," said Bob Monetti who lost his son in the crash.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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