February 28, 2025
A Willkie team led by partners Michael Gottlieb and Nicholas Reddick, and co-counsel Ryan Sparacino of Sparacino PLLC, was recognized as a “Runner Up” by The AmLaw Litigation Daily for its victory on behalf of American servicemembers and civilians killed or wounded in Iraq using the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act (FSIA), securing $1.1 billion in damages against Iran for its support of terrorism. The award consists of $555 million in compensatory damages including prejudgment interest and $555 million in punitive damages.
On February 25, 2025, Judge Moss issued a final order awarding $1.1 billion to 45 plaintiffs represented by Willkie and Sparacino PLLC. Those clients will be eligible to recover substantial portions of their damages awards from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSSTF), among other means.
Utilizing the terrorism exception to the FSIA, the suit alleged that Iran provided material support to terrorist organizations who carried out attacks in Iraq that caused the death and injuries of 45 servicemembers, civilians serving abroad, and their families. Under the FSIA, plaintiffs are required to prove their case even where Iran does not appear in court to defend the claims. Willkie’s victory relied on its early successful litigation of numerous FOIA lawsuits against federal agencies in order to obtain documentary evidence needed to prove those claims.
Read more about the case here.
The Willkie team included partners Nicholas Reddick and Michael Gottlieb, and associates Devin Ringger, Nicholas Conlon, Logan Kenney, Alexis Dorner, Erik Holmvik, Trevor Newton, and Lindsay Hemminger.
On February 25, 2025, Judge Moss issued a final order awarding $1.1 billion to 45 plaintiffs represented by Willkie and Sparacino PLLC. Those clients will be eligible to recover substantial portions of their damages awards from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSSTF), among other means.
Utilizing the terrorism exception to the FSIA, the suit alleged that Iran provided material support to terrorist organizations who carried out attacks in Iraq that caused the death and injuries of 45 servicemembers, civilians serving abroad, and their families. Under the FSIA, plaintiffs are required to prove their case even where Iran does not appear in court to defend the claims. Willkie’s victory relied on its early successful litigation of numerous FOIA lawsuits against federal agencies in order to obtain documentary evidence needed to prove those claims.
Read more about the case here.
The Willkie team included partners Nicholas Reddick and Michael Gottlieb, and associates Devin Ringger, Nicholas Conlon, Logan Kenney, Alexis Dorner, Erik Holmvik, Trevor Newton, and Lindsay Hemminger.
