State Department's Embrace of Libya has Precedent for Cuba, Other Countries

Statement of Ronald L. Motley, Member, Motley Rice LLC, Representing
plaintiffs in numerous anti-terrorism cases Involving Libya and other cases
involving 9/11

MT. PLEASANT, S.C., July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a brazen disregard
for the precedent of international law, the U.S. State Department has
submitted a legislative proposal to Congress to partially "resolve" claims by
terrorism victims against Libya with no acknowledgement of responsibility and
dismissing the claims of a vast number of plaintiffs with legal standing in
U.S. courts. The unvetted proposal that passed the U.S. Senate today and is
now in the U.S. House of Representatives settles some of the U.S. residents'
claims, throws out the claims of non-U.S. residents (who have standing under
the Alien Tort Statute), and then completely immunizes Libya against existing
and future lawsuits, attachments, and liens. It even goes so far as to ensure
that Libya, under law, is treated like any other state that never practiced
terrorism.

Such a proposal, if enacted, would set precedent for future State Department
proposals to immunize any government now on the "state sponsors" list,
especially Cuba, but also Syria, Iran, Sudan, and North Korea, against similar
actions brought by victims of their state-sponsored terrorism, whether
residing in the U.S. or overseas. If passed, this will be the first time that
Congress has created a law to aid a state sponsor of terrorism by immunizing
them from litigation -- all done without any debate in secret back-room deals.
This bill undermines the very laws Congress enacted to provide victims with
redress through the U.S. Court system.

This precedent setting legislation calls for a public debate on the bill's
impacts - in an open forum with public input and open press scrutiny. I
encourage all interested parties to call or email your U.S. Representative
today and say no immunity for Libya without an open discussion.

SOURCE Motley Rice LLC

Ron Motley or Carolyn James, both of Motley Rice LLC, +1-843-834-4740