International Terrorism in the United States
Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act: Main Elements of a Claim Under § 1605A
Note: For further information about FISA and terrorism claims, click here.
In Estate of Doe v. Islamic Republic of Iran, the court held that the foreign (non-U.S.-citizen) family members of foreign national employees of the U.S. embassy in Beirut who were killed or injured in terrorist attacks lacked a federal cause of action under § 1605A.271 Similarly, in Owens v. Republic of Sudan, the court found that foreign national family members of the victims of the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi could not proceed under § 1605A, although they “may continue to pursue claims under applicable state and/or foreign law.”
Execution of Judgments in § 1605A Cases
Many of the judgments rendered under the terrorism exception have been substantial, sometimes exceeding $100 million. The FSIA has been amended several times with regard to judgments against state sponsors of terrorism, and several separate but related statutes have also been enacted.
1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism
18 U.S.C. § 3071 : US Code – Section 3071: Information for which rewards authorized
This description of the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism tracks the language of the U.S. Code, except that, sometimes, we use plain English and that we may refer to the “Act” (meaning 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism) rather than to the “subchapter” or the “title” of the United States Code.
U.S. Code Citation
U.S. Code Section and Head
- United States Code – Section 3071
- Head of the Section: Information for which rewards authorized
Text of the Section
(a) With respect to acts of terrorism primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, the Attorney General may reward any individual who furnishes information – (1) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for the commission of an act of terrorism against a United States person or United States property; or (2) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for conspiring or attempting to commit an act of terrorism against a United States person or property; or (3) leading to the prevention, frustration, or favorable resolution of an act of terrorism against a United States person or property. (b) With respect to acts of espionage involving or directed at the United States, the Attorney General may reward any individual who furnishes information – (1) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for commission of an act of espionage against the United States; (2) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for conspiring or attempting to commit an act of espionage against the United States; or (3) leading to the prevention or frustration of an act of espionage against the United States.