A Washington-based lawyer at Crowell & Moring has registered to lobby for terrorism victims with judgments against Iran.
Crowell partner Stuart Newberger is seeking congressional legislation to satisfy outstanding Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act judgments for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who were victims of terrorism attacks connected to the Iranian government, according to a lobbying registration report filed with Congress last week. Under the FSIA, Americans, as well as foreign nationals who were victims of terrorists while working for the U.S. government, can sue state sponsors of terrorism for terrorism-related damages in U.S. courts.
Newberger for several years has represented a variety of groups that are seeking to recover damages from Iran. All of the cases concern terrorism in Lebanon carried out directly by Iran or by Shiite militant group Hezbollah and sponsored by the country.
Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has awarded 23 U.S. citizens injured in the bombing and 14 families of Americans killed more than $335 million in Dammarell et al v. Islamic Republic of Iran. But the judge has yet to enter a final judgment in the case involving the Lebanese nationals.
"I registered now because we have been asked to prepare a comprehensive legislative approach that would benefit all victims of Iranian terror, not just our clients, and I have just begun detailed discussions with folks on the Hill re[garding] that proposal," Newberger wrote in an e-mail.
Zoe Tillman contributed to this report.
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