Hake v. Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran ( 2022 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
KELLI D. HAKE et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v. Civil Action No. 17-114 (TJK)
BANK MARKAZI JOMHOURI ISLAMI
IRAN et al.,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This case is about several attacks on American soldiers in Iraq between 2004 and 2011.
Plaintiffs—survivors, estates of the deceased, and their family members—allege that the Islamic
Republic of Iran facilitated these attacks with help from certain state-owned and -operated com-
panies. Other courts have already found Iran itself liable to some of the same plaintiffs for some
of the same attacks. Here, Plaintiffs sue the companies, Defendants Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami
Iran, Bank Melli Iran, and National Iranian Oil Company. Given the scope of their claims, Plain-
tiffs start by moving for partial default judgment on the same bellwether claims for which Iran was
found liable in Karcher v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 396 F. Supp. 3d 12 (D.D.C. 2019). As in that
case, they ask the Court to consider only Defendants’ liability, leaving damages determinations
for another day. For the reasons explained below, the Court will grant Plaintiffs’ motion.
I. Background
A. Factual Background
Plaintiffs focus on seven bellwether attacks against U.S. soldiers in Iraq from 2005 through
2009. Six of the attacks allegedly involved the use of an explosively formed penetrator (“EFP”)
on armored vehicles in Baghdad. The seventh was a targeted assault on a compound in Karbala.
The Court describes each attack in turn.1
1. May 2005 Attack
On May 3, 2005, Robert Bartlett, an Army sniper and calvary scout, was leading a three-
vehicle convoy when an EFP hit his vehicle. Tr. 2 at 51:2–13, 57:7–21; Tr. 3 at 39:20–40:15. A
projectile “pierced the top edge of the vehicle, between the door frame and the roof, and ‘cut
[Bartlett] from the left corner of [his] temple down through [his] jaw,’ leaving him with third
degree burns and lodging shrapnel in his hands.” Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 31 (quoting Tr. 2 at
51:24–25, 53:18–23, 55:13–14, 17–18, 57:11–13). A witness described the injury as “ghastly.”
Tr. 2 at 80:11–25. Bartlett has since undergone several facial reconstructive surgeries. Id. at 62:8–
63:7. He also suffers from permanent nerve pain in his face, lips, and hands; a traumatic brain
injury; post-traumatic stress disorder; and short-term memory loss. Id. at 63:9–65:9.
2. October 2006 Attack
The next year, on October 22, 2006, four armored Humvees were travelling through central
Baghdad when an EFP struck. At the time, Major David Haines was sitting in the left-side back
seat of the lead vehicle. Shrapnel hit Haines in his right hand, left arm, right leg, and side. Tr. 4
1
As noted, all seven attacks were the subject of the court’s August 2019 opinion in Karcher, which
was issued after a three-day bench trial. Four were addressed again in Lee v. Islamic Republic of
Iran, 518 F. Supp. 3d 475 (D.D.C. 2021). And the Karbala attack was also considered in Fritz v.
Islamic Republic of Iran, 320 F. Supp. 3d 48 (D.D.C. 2018). The Court takes judicial notice of
these cases under Federal Rule of Evidence 201(b). See Rimkus v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 750
F. Supp. 163, 171 (D.D.C. 2010). The Court also relies on the evidence presented to the Karcher
court. See Murphy v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 740 F. Supp. 2d 51, 59 (D.D.C. 2010) (in FSIA
cases, the court can “review evidence considered in an opinion that is judicially noticed, without
necessitating the re-presentment of such evidence”). The Court will use “Tr.” and a number 1
through 5 to reflect the volume in which the cited testimony appears. And exhibits from the trial
are denoted by their title and “PX,” followed by the exhibit number assigned. All that said, the
Court, as it must, reaches its own, independent findings of the facts here. Rimkus, 750 F. Supp. 2d
at 172.
2
at 165:13–15. He testified in Karcher that “the metacarpals in [his] right hand were shattered, and
it looked like somebody had taken a bite out of the side of [his] hand.” Id. at 168:12–20. A
Vietnam veteran and mentor to Haines commented that he had “never seen anybody with more
holes in him than [Haines],” and even compared him to “Swiss cheese one time.” Id. at 167:10–
17. To this day, Haines carries shrapnel in his body from the attack. Id. at 167:19–25.
3. First March 2008 Attack
Specialist Christopher Levi was travelling in a convoy on March 17, 2008. Tr. 4 at 182:2–
19. As the convoy passed through an intersection, an EFP struck Levi’s armored Humvee on the
right side. Id. at 182:18–19. Levi recalled remaining conscious “for what . . . may have been
either seconds or days at that point.” Id. at 183:6–7. He then lost consciousness, only to wake up
again in the truck. Id. at 183:18–20. He was doing a head-to-toe “self-assessment” when he real-
ized that the EFP had gone “directly through [his] thighs.” Id. at 184:4–25. He had lost most of
both his legs; it was, in medical terms, “a transfemoral amputation, catastrophic at site. [A] [d]ou-
ble transfemoral amputation.” Id. at 184:25–185:1. On top of that, a piece of shrapnel “entered
[his] forearm, bounced off [his] ulnar, hit [his] radius, took five of [his] wrist bones out and two-
thirds of [his] second metacarpal,” just barely “deflect[ing] away from [his] face.” Id. at 185:1–7.
He eventually had more than 100 surgeries to correct his injuries. Id. at 189:15–22. He now has
prosthetic legs and experiences nerve pain regularly. Id. at 194:3–12.
4. Second March 2008 Attack
Six days after the first attack in March 2008, a patrol team in armored vehicles was on a
mission in Baghdad “focused on securing an area known for launching mortar attacks on a nearby
base.” Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 38; see also Tr. 4 at 56:2–13, 57:16–24. As the team was
returning to base, an EFP struck the lead vehicle. See Barker Report, PX-158 at 38. The slug
3
“penetrated the armor on the [vehicle’s] right side, [and] passed through the vehicle’s fuel tank,”
causing the vehicle to catch fire. Id. Soldiers “tried and attempted to gain access to the now
burning . . . fighting vehicle.” Tr. 4 at 69:14–15. But it was hours before doctors could enter and
recover the charred remains of those inside, including soldiers George Delgado, Christopher Hake,
and Andrew J. Habsieger. Id. at 70:3–7.
5. May 2008 Attack
The next attack happened late in the evening on May 9, 2008. A convoy was returning to
base when, just after passing an Iraqi National Police checkpoint, an EFP ripped through the sec-
ond vehicle. See Tr. 4 at 143:5–11, 145:5–18. The slug hit the driver in the face and Private First
Class Wesley Williamson in the right arm. Id. at 145:9–18. Williamson testified that “the shrapnel
traveled right below [his] elbow through [his] forearm. And it severed [his] ulna and [his] radius
as well as [his] post interosseous nerve.” Id. at 146:5–7. He suffered nightmares after the attack
for “quite a while” and still feels daily “general discomfort” because of the plates and screws
doctors permanently placed into his arm. Id. at 150:19–21, 151:21–152:4.
6. May 2009 Attack
About a year later, on May 17, 2009, Staff Sergeant Robert Canine was on a routine patrol
in a convoy composed of four Humvees. Tr. 4 at 107:7–24. Suddenly, an EFP struck Canine’s
armored Humvee—which was leading the convoy—on the passenger side, where Canine was sit-
ting. See Barker Report, PX-158 at 51. Small arms fire followed. Id. Canine testified that he
“heard the initial blast which could have been the precursor to the main charge.” Tr. 4 at 114:9–
10. He blinked and opened his eyes to “golden sparks flying from right to left.” Id. at 114:10–12.
After losing and then regaining consciousness, Canine says that he could smell and seemingly taste
explosives. Id. at 114:22–25. When he tried to get out of the vehicle, he realized that his “right
4
leg was pretty much blown off.” Id. at 115:13–14. Eventually, both his legs were amputated. Id.
at 117:16–22, 121:25–122:1.
7. January 20, 2007 Attack
The final attack did not involve an EFP. On January 20, 2007, a team of soldiers was
stationed at the Provincial Joint Coordination Center (“PJCC”) “to assist the Karbala Provincial
team with their security planning for the upcoming Ashura religious period.” U.S. Army Report
Pursuant to AR 15-6 (“Karbala AR 15-6”), PX-96 at 3. That afternoon, several American-looking
SUVs approached the first of two Iraqi police checkpoints. Id. at 4. What happened next is not
entirely clear, but the Iraqi police surrendered their weapons and allowed the convoy to pass. Id.
at 5. Then, four to six SUVs entered the PJCC’s parking lot; some assailants “detained at gun-
point” Iraqi police officers who were posted nearby; and others secured the perimeter while the
“remainder headed toward the gated entrance to the PJCC.” Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 47 (quot-
ing Expert Report of Michael P. Pregent (“Pregent Report”), PX-155 at 17); see also Karbala AR
15-6, PX-96 at 1, 5. Several assailants made their way through the courtyard and into the main
building, passing as Americans. Karbala AR 15-6, PX-96 at 5.
As some assailants took control of the main building’s entrance, others inside attacked the
command room where Staff Sergeant Billy Wallace, Specialist Johnny Washburn, Private First
Class Johnathon M. Millican, and other American troops were located. Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d
at 47 (citing Pregent Report, PX-155 at 20). The assailants could not force their way in but tossed
a grenade through a cracked door. Karbala AR 15-6, PX-96 at 6. Millican fell on the grenade,
absorbing the greater part of the blast and allowing other soldiers to fend off the attack. Id.
Another group of the assailants abducted four soldiers, including Captain Brian S. Free-
man. They handcuffed the soldiers and put them into two separate SUVs before fleeing. Pregent
5
Report, PX-155 at 22–23; see also Karbala AR 15-6, PX-96 at 6–7. Apparently, their plan was to
kidnap Americans to “exchange[] for high-value prisoners that Iran wanted back.” Tr. 5 at 174:1–
4. They then “followed a . . . route used by [Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”)]
to smuggle weapons and explosive devices from Iran into Iraq.” Lee v. Islamic Republic of Iran,
518 F. Supp. 3d 475, 489 (D.D.C. 2021). But when the assailants came across checkpoints along
the route, they realized that they “could not escape with hostages.” Karbala AR 15-6, PX-96 at 3,
9. So they killed the soldiers. See Pregent Report, PX-155 at 25–26. Freeman was found alive
“amongst the abandoned SUVs” with a gunshot wound to the head, but he died on the way to the
regional embassy office. Id. at 27.
Meanwhile, back at the PJCC, the assailants still in the building had withdrawn and tossed
a “powerful” grenade into a hallway. Pregent Report, PX-155 at 23. That grenade “left a hole in
the concrete floor and blew the doors in the hallway off their hinges, injuring . . . Wallace.” Id.(footnote omitted). Washburn, Evan Kirby, and Marvin Thornsberry were also injured. ECF No.
118 at 6–8 (second Karcher opinion).2
B. Procedural History
In 2017, three groups of survivors, estates, and their families sued Bank Markazi Jomhouri
Islami Iran (“Bank Markazi”), Bank Melli Iran (“Bank Melli”), and National Iranian Oil Company
(“National Oil”) under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”) for their roles in helping
Iran facilitate the above attacks and others. See ECF No. 1; Brooks et al. v. Bank Markazi Jomhouri
Islami Iran et al., No. 17-cv-737 (TJK); Field et al. v. Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran et al.,
2
Plaintiffs moved this Court to take judicial notice of a second Memorandum Opinion in Karcher
discussing Washburn’s, Kirby’s, and Thornsberry’s injuries, ECF No. 117, which they filed under
seal at ECF No. 118. The same opinion, with certain material redacted, is on the Karcher docket
at ECF No. 106. Karcher et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 16-cv-232 (CKK), ECF No. 106
(D.D.C. Sept. 11, 2019). The Court grants that motion.
6
No. 17-cv-2126 (TJK).3 In each case, the Clerk of Court sent to Defendants copies of the Sum-
mons and Second Amended Complaint via DHL Express. And in each case, Defendants signed
for the packages but never appeared. Thus, the Clerk entered default against all three Defendants
in all three cases. See ECF Nos. 31–33; Brooks et al, No. 17-cv-737, ECF Nos. 23–25; Field et
al, No. 17-cv-2126, ECF No. 18.
In September 2020, the Court consolidated the three cases. See Minute Order of Sept. 17,
2020. A few months later, Plaintiffs filed their proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
See ECF No. 107. And they later moved for default judgment on the liability claims of certain
soldiers injured or killed by the above bellwether attacks—the same “bellwether plaintiffs” to
whom Iran was found liable in Karcher. ECF No. 111; see also ECF No. 107 at 173, 193–94.4
Plaintiffs ask the Court to reserve damages determinations for a later time.
II. Legal Standards
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2), a court may consider entering a default
judgment when a party applies for that relief. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). “[S]trong policies
favor resolution of disputes on their merits,” and so “[t]he default judgment must normally be
3
Plaintiffs in Hake and Field originally sued Melli Bank PLC as well, but later voluntarily dis-
missed their claims against it.
4
Although Plaintiffs never spell it out with precision, the group includes, as detailed above, Robert
Bartlett, David W. Haines, Christopher Levi, Wesley Williamson, Robert Canine, Billy Wallace,
Evan Kirby, Johnny Washburn, and Marvin Thornsberry, as well as the estates of Christopher
Hake, George Delgado, Johnathon M. Millican, and Brian S. Freeman. These are the same plain-
tiffs to whom the Karcher court found Iran liable. See Karcher et al., No. 16-cv-232 (CKK), ECF
No. 102 at 1 n.1 (D.D.C. Sept. 9, 2019); see also ECF No. 111 at 3 n.1 (listing the same individu-
als). The Karcher court also included Andrew Habsieger in its list of bellwether plaintiffs. But
neither Andrew Habsieger nor his estate are plaintiffs in this consolidated case. Like the Karcher
court, this Court will leave all family members’ claims for another day. See Karcher, 396 F. Supp.
3d at 65.
7
viewed as available only when the adversary process has been halted because of an essentially
unresponsive party.” Jackson v. Beech, 636 F.2d 831, 836 (D.C. Cir. 1980) (cleaned up).
Even then, “entry of a default judgment is not automatic.” Mwani v. bin Laden, 417 F.3d
1, 6 (D.C. Cir. 2005) (footnote omitted). A court retains its “affirmative obligation” to determine
whether it has subject-matter jurisdiction over the action. James Madison Ltd. ex rel. Hecht v.
Ludwig, 82 F.3d 1085, 1092 (D.C. Cir. 1996). Additionally, “a court should satisfy itself that it
has personal jurisdiction before entering judgment against an absent defendant.” Mwani, 417 F.3d
at 6. And “plaintiffs retain the burden of proving personal jurisdiction,” which they can satisfy
“with a prima facie showing.” Id. at 7 (cleaned up). In doing so, “they may rest their argument
on their pleadings, bolstered by such affidavits and other written materials as they can otherwise
obtain.” Id.“When default judgment is sought under the FSIA, a claimant must ‘establish[] his claim
or right to relief by evidence satisfactory to the court.’” Warmbier v. Democratic People’s Repub-
lic of Korea, 356 F. Supp. 3d 30, 42 (D.D.C. 2018) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1608(e)). And courts
must apply that standard mindful that “Congress enacted the terrorism exception expressly to bring
state sponsors of terrorism . . . to account for their repressive practices,” Kim v. Democratic Peo-
ple’s Republic of Korea, 774 F.3d 1044, 1048 (D.C. Cir. 2014), and to “punish foreign states who
have committed or sponsored such acts and deter them from doing so in the future,” Price v. So-
cialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, 294 F.3d 82, 88–89 (D.C. Cir. 2002).
As a result, the D.C. Circuit has instructed that “courts have the authority—indeed . . . the
obligation—to adjust evidentiary requirements to . . . differing situations.” Kim, 774 F.3d at 1048
(cleaned up). To be sure, courts must draw their “findings of fact and conclusions of law from
admissible testimony in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence.” Id. at 1049 (cleaned up).
8
But uncontroverted factual allegations supported by admissible evidence may be taken as true. See
Roth v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 78 F. Supp. 3d 379, 386 (D.D.C. 2015). And § 1608(e) “does
not require a court to step into the shoes of the defaulting party and pursue every possible eviden-
tiary challenge.” Owens v. Republic of Sudan, 864 F.3d 751, 785 (D.C. Cir. 2017), vacated &
remanded on other grounds sub nom. Opati v. Republic of Sudan, 140 S. Ct. 1601 (2020).
In an FSIA default proceeding, a court can find that the evidence presented is satisfactory
“when the plaintiff shows her claim has some factual basis, . . . even if she might not have prevailed
in a contested proceeding.” Owens, 864 F.3d at 785 (cleaned up). “This lenient standard is par-
ticularly appropriate for a[n] FSIA terrorism case, for which firsthand evidence and eyewitness
testimony is difficult or impossible to obtain from an absent and likely hostile sovereign.” Id.
Thus, courts have “an unusual degree of discretion over evidentiary rulings in a[n] FSIA case
against a defaulting state sponsor of terrorism.” Id. This discretion extends to admitting expert
testimony, which is often “of crucial importance in terrorism cases . . . because firsthand evidence
of terrorist activities is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain,” “[v]ictims of terrorist attacks . . . are
often . . . unable to testify about their experiences,” and “[p]erpetrators of terrorism typically lie
beyond the reach of the courts and go to great lengths to avoid detection.” Id. at 787 (citations
omitted). Moreover, “[e]yewitnesses in a state that sponsors terrorism are similarly difficult to
locate,” and “[t]he sovereigns themselves often fail to appear and to participate in discovery.” Id.
For these reasons, the Circuit has recognized that “reliance upon secondary materials and the opin-
ions of experts is often critical in order to establish the factual basis of a claim under the FSIA
terrorism exception.” Id.
9
III. Analysis
To find Defendants liable on the bellwether claims identified above, the Court must answer
three questions in the affirmative: (1) whether it has subject-matter jurisdiction over the claims,
(2) whether it can exercise personal jurisdiction over Defendants, and (3) whether there is enough
evidence to find Defendants liable. The Court takes each in turn.
A. Subject-Matter Jurisdiction
Federal district courts have original jurisdiction over “(1) nonjury civil actions (2) for
claims seeking relief in personam (3) against a foreign state (4) when the foreign state is not enti-
tled to immunity either under sections 1605 to 1607 of the FSIA or under any applicable interna-
tional agreement.” Shoham v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 12-cv-508 (RCL), 2017 WL 2399454,
at *10 (D.D.C. June 1, 2017); 28 U.S.C. § 1330. The claims here meet all these conditions.
1. Non-Sovereign Immunity Conditions
The first two conditions are straightforward. This is a nonjury civil action. ECF No. 107
at 165. And Plaintiffs are seeking relief in personam, rather than in rem. See Shoham, 2017 WL
2399454, at *10 (explaining that suing defendants “as legal persons” rather than “property” means
that the claims “seek relief in personam”).
The suit also meets the third condition, as it is against a “foreign state.” This may seem
counterintuitive at first, given that Defendants are two banks and an oil company. But the FSIA
defines a “foreign state” as including “an agency or instrumentality of a foreign state,” and De-
fendants here are agencies or instrumentalities of Iran. 28 U.S.C. § 1603(a).
An “agency or instrumentality of a foreign state” includes any entity which is (1) “a sepa-
rate legal person, corporate or otherwise”; (2) “an organ of a foreign state or political subdivision
thereof, or a majority of whose shares or other ownership interest is owned by a foreign state or
10
political subdivision thereof”; and (3) “neither a citizen of a State of the United States . . . , nor
created under the laws of any third country.” Id. § 1603(b). Under Circuit precedent, an entity
meets the first element if its “core functions” are “commercial.” Roeder v. Islamic Republic of
Iran, 333 F.3d 228, 234 (D.C. Cir. 2003). Relying on the opinion of Dr. Patrick L. Clawson—
who in turn relies on government reports, government designations, Iranian and U.S. officials’
speeches, and his own experience and research—Plaintiffs have shown that Defendants check all
three boxes, as other courts have repeatedly found.5
Bank Melli is Iran’s “largest bank.” ECF No. 95 ¶ 68 (Clawson Decl.). It “provides com-
mercial banking services in Iran and internationally including foreign exchange transactions, for-
eign currency accounts, long-term and short-term foreign currency investment deposits and term
deposits, money transfer and remittances, plastic card services, and imports services in industry
and commercial economic zones.” Est. of Fishbeck v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 18-cv-2248
(CRC), 2021 WL 6808189, at *2 (D.D.C. Mar. 1, 2021) (cleaned up);6 see also ECF No. 95 ¶¶ 96–
103. In other words, its core function is commercial. It is also “100 percent openly government-
owned. All of its distributed profits go to the government.” ECF No. 95 ¶ 101. Thus, this Court
agrees with others that have found it to be an agency or instrumentality of Iran. See, e.g., Est. of
Fishbeck, 2021 WL 6808189, at *2; Holladay v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 406 F. Supp. 3d 55, 59
5
Clawson was not an expert witness in Karcher, but Plaintiffs proffer him as an expert here. He
is a “widely-renowned expert on Iranian affairs” who has served as an expert witness in several
federal cases. Valore v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 700 F. Supp. 2d 52, 62 (D.D.C. 2010) (cleaned
up); see also ECF No. 95 ¶ 6. Given his skill, knowledge, education, experience, and training, this
Court finds—as others have—that he is qualified “as an expert on Iran’s economy and support of
terrorist organizations.” Est. of Hirshfeld v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 330 F. Supp. 3d 107, 119
n.4 (D.D.C. 2018).
6
The Court takes judicial notice of this case and the others that have decided whether Bank Melli,
Bank Markazi, and National Oil are agencies or instrumentalities of Iran. See infra.
11
(D.D.C. 2019) (“Holladay I”); Henkin v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 18-cv-1273 (RCL), 2021
WL 2914036, at *18 (D.D.C. July 12, 2021).
Bank Markazi is a “joint-stock company” formed under Iranian law and “wholly owned by
the Government,” so it easily meets the FSIA’s last two requirements for an agency or instrumen-
tality. ECF No. 95 ¶ 62 (quoting State Monetary and Banking Law of 9 July 1972, amended 2017,
art. 10(e) (Iran)). Whether it “performs predominantly commercial functions, and whether it is
thus ‘a separate legal person, corporate or otherwise,’” however, is more “difficult to discern.”
Holladay v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 523 F. Supp. 3d 100, 111 (D.D.C. 2021) (“Holladay II”)
(quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1603(b)(1)).
Central banks, like Bank Markazi, “by their nature, straddle the line between governmental
and commercial activity; they often both set the parameters for financial markets and operate
within those markets.” Id. Indeed, Clawson notes that Bank Markazi has been the “principal
implementer” of some of Iran’s financial policies, and its “lack[]” of “independence from the gov-
ernment” is well known. ECF No. 95 ¶¶ 73–74.
Still, the Court agrees with others that the available evidence sufficiently establishes “the
predominance of Bank Markazi’s commercial functions.” Est. of Hartwick v. Islamic Republic of
Iran, No. 18-cv-1612 (CKK), 2021 WL 6805391, at *7 (D.D.C. Oct. 1, 2021). It issues loans and
reports its profits. ECF No. 95 ¶¶ 72, 63; see also Holladay II, 523 F. Supp. 3d at 111–12. And
its role in setting policy is minimal. See ECF No. 95 ¶ 66; see also Holladay II, 523 F. Supp. 3d
at 112. Plus, Bank Markazi self-identified as an “agency or instrumentality of Iran” to the United
States Supreme Court, even while describing itself as “an independent and distinct legal entity,
separate from the Iranian government.” Brief for Petitioner, Bank Markazi v. Peterson, 578 U.S.
212 (2016) (No. 14-770), 2015 WL 7294865, at *9 (Nov. 16, 2015); see also Peterson v. Islamic
12
Republic of Iran, No. 10-cv-4518 (KBF), 2013 WL 5538652, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 8, 2013) (“Bank
Markazi does not dispute that it is an instrumentality of Iran. Indeed, its acknowledgement of that
fact forms the premise of its motion that it is entitled to FSIA immunity.” (citation omitted)).
Finally, National Oil is “one of the largest oil companies in the world.” ECF No. 95 ¶ 115.
It “is responsible for ‘exploration, drilling, production, research and development, refining, distri-
bution and export of oil, gas, petroleum products.’” Id. (quoting NIOC at a Glance,
http://www.nioc.ir/portal/home/?generaltext/81026/81171/67776/). These are all commercial ac-
tivities. Even its role in promoting state policy by “encouraging the development of the Iranian
oil industry” can be linked back to its commercial interests. Holladay II, 523 F. Supp. 3d at 110
(cleaned up). In other words, National Oil’s “commercial functions predominate.” Id.; see also
Est. of Fishbeck, 2021 WL 6808189, at *2. It is also incorporated in and “entirely owned by the
government of Iran.” ECF No. 95 ¶ 116; Est. of Fishbeck, 2021 WL 6808189, at *2. Thus, it too
qualifies as an agency or instrumentality of Iran.
In sum, all three Defendants are agencies or instrumentalities of a foreign state, so each is
a “foreign state” under the FSIA. The only remaining question on subject-matter jurisdiction is
whether the FSIA or another international agreement entitles Defendants to immunity.
2. Sovereign Immunity
Entities like Defendants are generally immune from lawsuits brought against them in the
United States—unless an FSIA exception applies. See 28 U.S.C. § 1604; Mohammadi v. Islamic
Republic of Iran, 782 F.3d 9, 13–14 (D.C. Cir. 2015). Plaintiffs invoke the FSIA terrorism excep-
tion, which sets out that foreign states are not immune in cases where “money damages are sought
against a foreign state for personal injury or death that was caused by” an enumerated terrorist act.
28 U.S.C. § 1605A(a)(1); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1330.
13
Plaintiffs must prove three elements to establish subject-matter jurisdiction under the ter-
rorism exception: (1) the foreign state was designated a state sponsor of terrorism when the act of
terrorism occurred and when this action was filed; (2) the claimant or victim was a national of the
United States at the time of the act;7 and (3) the damages sought are for personal injury or death
caused by the act of terrorism. See Akins v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 332 F. Supp. 3d 1, 32; 28
U.S.C. § 1605A.8 As in Karcher, Plaintiffs have met their burden for the bellwether claims here.
See Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 53; Karcher v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 16-cv-232 (CKK),
2019 WL 4305482, at *1 (D.D.C. Sept. 11, 2019).
a. Iran Was Timely Designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism
When courts consider the “state sponsor of terrorism” requirement in cases against agen-
cies or instrumentalities, they look to the foreign nation of which the agencies or instrumentalities
are a part. See Shoham, 2017 WL 2399454, at *13; Henkin, 2021 WL 2914036, at *13. Here, that
is Iran. And the State Department has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984.
See U.S. Dep’t of State, State Sponsors of Terrorism (Dec. 20, 2017), PX-1.
b. The Bellwether Plaintiffs Were U.S. Nationals
Next up is the status of the relevant victims or claimants. As noted above, Plaintiffs are
only moving for default judgment on the claims of the individuals to whom the Karcher court
7
Plaintiffs could also show that the victim or claimant was “a member of the armed forces” at the
time of the attack. 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II). And based on the evidence presented here,
Plaintiffs could probably meet that requirement for the bellwether plaintiffs. But Plaintiffs instead
focus on the bellwether plaintiffs’ nationality.
8
The statute also requires a plaintiff to offer to arbitrate a claim against a foreign state in that
foreign state when the acts causing injury occurred there. But here, the acts occurred in Iraq, not
Iran. Thus, Plaintiffs need not have offered arbitration to establish subject-matter jurisdiction. See
28 U.S.C. § 1605A(a)(2)(A)(iii).
14
found Iran liable. ECF No. 107 at 173. That group comprises “Plaintiffs injured in the bellwether
attacks” and “Plaintiffs representing individuals killed by the bellwether attacks.” See Karcher,
396 F. Supp. 3d at 65. Those injured or killed in the bellwether attacks—i.e., the victims—were
at all relevant times United States citizens. See Birth Certificate of Robert Bartlett, PX-172; Birth
Certificate of David Haines, PX-139; Birth Certificate of Christopher Levi, PX-143; Birth Certif-
icate of George Delgado, PX-142; Birth Certificate of Christopher Hake, PX-152; Birth Certificate
of Wesley Williamson, PX-138; Birth Certificate of Robert Canine, PX-137; Birth Certificate of
Johnny Frank Washburn II, PX-64; Birth Certificate of Johnathon Millican, PX-147; Birth Certif-
icate of Evan Kirby, PX-148; Birth Certificate of Marvin Thornsberry, PX-149; Birth Certificate
of Brian Freeman, PX-150; Birth Certificate of Billy Wallace, PX-166. This means that the rele-
vant victims were nationals of the United States for FSIA purposes. See 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(h)(5);
8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(22).
c. Defendants’ Actions Qualify for the Terrorism Exception
The last requirement is that the damages sought are for personal injury or death caused by
the foreign state’s commission of at least one terrorist act enumerated in the statute, including
“torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, or the provision of material support
or resources for such an act.” 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(a)(1). Plaintiffs have met their burden for these
bellwether claims.
15
i. The Bellwether Attacks Were Terrorist Acts
Plaintiffs have shown that the bellwether attacks were terrorist attacks under the FSIA. The
FSIA lists several different kinds of terrorist acts. 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(a)(1). Two are relevant
here: extrajudicial killing and hostage taking.
An “[e]xtrajudicial killing” is “a deliberated killing not authorized by a previous judgment
pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recog-
nized as indispensable by civilized peoples. Such term, however, does not include any killing that,
under international law, is lawfully carried out under the authority of a foreign nation.” Torture
Victim Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 102-256, § 3(a), 106 Stat. 73, 73 (1992) (codified at 28 U.S.C.
§ 1350 note); see 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(h)(7) (incorporating the Torture Victim Protection Act’s def-
inition of “extrajudicial killing”). The D.C. Circuit has interpreted this text to include three ele-
ments: “(1) a killing; (2) that is deliberated; and (3) is not authorized by a previous judgment
pronounced by a regularly constituted court.” Owens, 864 F.3d at 770. “‘[D]eliberated’ attempts
to kill” also “fall within the scope” of the statute. Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 58 (emphasis added)
(citing cases).
The first six bellwether attacks listed above meet these requirements. Each involved at
least an attempt to kill, and some in fact caused deaths. See supra; see also Karcher, 396 F. Supp.
3d at 57–58. Further, the killings and attempted killings were deliberate. Based on the evidence
presented—including military reports, chemical tests, photos, and expert reports relying on the
same—the Court finds, as have other courts, that the first six bellwether attacks involved an EFP.
Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 30–45; Lee, 518 F. Supp. 3d at 485–87; see generally Barker Report,
PX-158. As those courts have explained, detonating an EFP requires “careful consideration.” Lee,
518 F. Supp. 3d at 491 (cleaned up). “EFPs must be strategically placed and later armed via either
remote frequency or command wire to properly detonate.” Id. at 492. And “EFPs were specifically
16
designed to punch through armored vehicles.” Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 56. In fact, “EFPs
were constantly retooled to overcome U.S. defenses that attempted to make EFPs less deadly.”
Lee, 518 F. Supp. 3d at 492. Finally, there is no evidence that EFP-involved attacks were author-
ized by a judgment of a “regularly constituted court or were lawfully carried out under the authority
of a foreign nation.” Id. Thus, the six EFP-involved bellwether attacks constitute extrajudicial
killings under the FSIA.
Meanwhile, a “hostage taking” is defined as follows:
Any person who seizes or detains and threatens to kill, to injure, or to continue to
detain another person . . . in order to compel a third party . . . to do or abstain from
doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the hostage com-
mits the offense of taking of hostages.
International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages art. 1, Dec. 17, 1979, 18 I.L.M. 1456,
1316 U.N.T.S. 205; see 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(h)(2) (incorporating the Convention’s definition of
“hostage taking”). Hostage taking thus has two elements: (1) the abduction or detention and (2)
the purpose of accomplishing “the sort of third-party compulsion described in the [C]onvention”—
that is, “some quid pro quo arrangement whereby the hostage would have been released upon
performance or non-performance of any action by that third party.” Simpson v. Socialist People’s
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, 470 F.3d 356, 359 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (cleaned up).
The seventh bellwether attack—the Karbala attack—satisfies both elements. As described
above, the assailants “patently detained U.S. service members by handcuffing them and driving
them away from the Karbala [Coordination Center].” Lee, 518 F. Supp. 3d at 492. And they did
so to exchange the service members “for high-value prisoners that Iran wanted back.” Tr. 5 at
174:1–4; see also Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 57 (the Karbala “attack was intended to capture
U.S. servicemembers who could be exchanged for Iranian detainees”); see also Fritz, 320 F. Supp.
3d at 71 (same). Thus, as three other courts have already found, that attack was a “hostage taking”
17
under the FSIA. See Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 56; Fritz, 320 F. Supp. 3d at 78; Lee, 518 F.
Supp. 3d at 492.
ii. Defendants’ Material Support for Shi’a Terrorist Cells
in Iraq Caused the Bellwether Attacks
Plaintiffs next must show that Defendants provided “material support” to the actors who
carried out the seven bellwether attacks and that their material support was a “legally sufficient
cause” of the attacks. Owens, 864 F.3d at 778; see, e.g., W.A. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 427 F.
Supp. 3d 117, 135–36 (D.D.C. 2019). Under the relevant statute, material support or resources is
“any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or
financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safehouses,
false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal sub-
stances, explosives, personnel . . . and transportation, except medicine or religious materials.” 18
U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(1); see 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(h)(3) (defining “material support or resources” un-
der the FSIA to have the “meaning given that term in section 2339A of title 18.”).
To begin with, Plaintiffs have presented sufficient evidence that Shi’a terrorist cells—also
called “Special Groups”—executed the bellwether attacks. Plaintiffs rely largely on the opinion
of Colonel (Ret.) Kevin Lutz, an expert witness in Karcher, who in turn relies on various military
reports, army investigations, witness declarations, and his own field experience. Lutz explains
that these terrorist cells were often responsible for EFP-involved attacks in the relevant areas. See
Expert Report of Col. (Ret.) Kevin Lutz (“Lutz Report”), PX-159 at 30 (quoting commanding
officer’s declaration about first attack); id. at 44 (quoting military report about third attack); id. at
69 (quoting military report about sixth attack). In fact, “[t]he EFP is the signature weapon” of the
insurgent groups. Id. at 9. And various military reports specifically concluded that these groups
were likely behind the six EFP-involved bellwether attacks. Id. at 40–41 (quoting military report
18
about third attack); id. at 53, 54 (quoting two military reports about fourth attack); Id. at 58, 61–
62 (quoting military reports about fifth attack). Based on the evidence before him, Lutz concluded
that a Shi’a “Special Group” conducted each of the EFP-involved bellwether attacks. See gener-
ally id. at 25–71. As for the attack that did not involve an EFP, one Shi’a Special Group “repeat-
edly claimed responsibility.” Fritz, 320 F. Supp. 3d at 71. Other courts have relied on the same
evidence to find Shi’a terrorist groups responsible for all seven bellwether attacks. See id.;
Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 30–52; Lee, 518 F. Supp. 3d at 485–90.
Plaintiffs have also offered enough proof, at the default stage, that Defendants provided
material support and resources to these Special Groups. They have shown that Iran developed and
backed these terrorist cells through intermediary organizations that Defendants funded.
Plaintiffs rely first on several experts’ opinions about Iran’s activities in Iraq—opinions
based on information from the Defense, State, and Treasury Departments, military reports, unclas-
sified intelligence, and the experts’ own knowledge or experience. See Expert Report of Russel
L. McIntyre (“McIntyre Report”), PX-157 at 3; Expert Report of Lieutenant General Michael L.
Oates, United States Army (Ret.) (“Oates Report”), PX-153 at 3; Expert Report of Dr. Michael
Levitt (“Levitt Report”), PX-154 at 2; Pregent Report, PX-155 at 3–4. Using this evidence, the
experts describe how Iran used the IRGC, its foreign branch the IRGC-QF, and Hezbollah to “con-
solidate Shi[’]a political control” in Iraq. Levitt Report, PX-154 at 6–8. They explain that, using
the IRGC-QF and Hezbollah, Iran established Shi’a insurgent groups (the same “Special Groups”
described above) and provided them with training, weapons, and financial support. See Pregent
Report, PX-155 at 12. Military reports cited by one expert show that, as of August 2007, Iran was
estimated to be “providing between $750,000 and $3 million worth of equipment and funding to
Special Groups every month.” Id. That equipment included EFPs “professionally manufactured
19
and specifically designed to target U.S. and Coalition Forces’ armor, such as armored patrols and
supply convoys.” Oates Report, PX-153 at 24. Courts in other FSIA cases have found the evi-
dence on which these experts rely sufficient to show Iran’s connection to and support of the Shi’a
terrorist cells. See, e.g., Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 22–30; Lee, 518 F. Supp. 3d at 482–85; Fritz,
320 F. Supp. 3d at 61; Roberts v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 581 F. Supp. 3d 152, 158–67 (D.D.C.
2022).
Meanwhile, according to experts Clawson and Katherine Bauer,9 Defendants Bank
Markazi, Bank Melli, and National Oil played critical roles in Iran’s efforts to promote terrorism
through the IRGC-QF and Hezbollah. Using government reports and terrorist designations, state-
ments by government officials, information from third-party banks, and Defendants’ own public
reports, see ECF No. 110 ¶¶ 14–25 (Bauer Decl.); ECF No. 95 ¶¶ 16–20, they explain that Iran
used Bank Markazi for many years “to transfer funds to support terrorism, principally to the IRGC-
QF and Hezbollah.” ECF No. 110 ¶ 85; see also ECF No. 95 ¶ 95. Clawson and Bauer also detail
how “Bank Melli provided banking services that provided significant funding to the IRGC-QF.”
ECF No. 110 ¶ 97; see also ECF No. 95 ¶ 108. In fact, according to the Treasury Department,
“IRGC-QF has used Bank Melli to dispense funds to Iraqi Shi’a militant groups.” ECF No. 95
¶ 107 (quoting State Department cable); ECF No. 110 ¶ 96 (same). Clawson further describes
9
Like Clawson, Bauer was not an expert witness in Karcher. She is a senior fellow in the Reinhard
Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute where she studies “Mid-
dle East terrorist groups, front organizations and state sponsors, [and] the logistical and financial
support networks that facilitate their activities.” ECF No. 110 ¶¶ 9–11. She once served as the
Assistant Director of the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial
Crimes. Id. ¶ 7. Based on her skill, knowledge, education, experience, and training, the Court
finds that she qualifies as an expert on Iran’s terrorism financing methods.
20
Bank Melli’s well-documented support for an Iranian organization that made weapons and muni-
tions “used by those attacking U.S. forces in Iraq.” ECF No. 95 ¶ 113. Both Clawson and Bauer
outline the United States government’s findings about National Oil’s role as financier of the IRGC-
QF “and its terrorist proxies.” ECF No. 110 ¶ 107 (quoting Treasury Department press release);
ECF No. 95 ¶ 123 (same). And Bauer details how all three laundered money to help “the IRGC
and other elements of Iran’s terror apparatus.” ECF No. 110. ¶¶ 111–80.10 Indeed, Defendants’
efforts “helped the regime acquire items restricted for their military applications and use in terror-
ism.” Id. ¶ 131. Other courts have relied on essentially the same evidence to find that Defendants
supported Iran’s terrorist activities. See Henkin, No. 18-cv-1273 (RCL), ECF No. 29 at 39–43
(Bank Markazi); id. at 46–48 (Bank Melli); In re Terrorist Attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, No. 03-
MDL-1570 (GBD), 2011 WL 13244047, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 22, 2011) (National Oil).
Finally, Plaintiffs have shown that Defendants’ role in Iran’s terror campaign was a legally
sufficient cause of the bellwether attacks. See Owens, 864 F.3d at 778 (requiring plaintiffs to show
that the foreign state’s material support is a legally sufficient cause of the terrorist attack at issue).
Plaintiffs need not show that Defendants specifically intended to cause the attacks; they need only
demonstrate proximate cause. That is, they must show “some reasonable connection between the
act or omission of the defendant and the damage which the plaintiff has suffered.” Kilburn v.
Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, 376 F.3d 1123, 1128 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (quoting W.
Page Keeton & William L. Prosser, PROSSER & KEETON ON THE LAW OF TORTS 263 (5th ed. 1984)).
To establish this causal connection, a defendant’s actions need only have been a “substantial factor
in the sequence of events” that caused the plaintiff’s injury, and the injury must be a “reasonably
10
This span includes redacted material. But the Court notes that it considered the unredacted,
sealed version of this document at ECF No. 97-2 in reaching its conclusions.
21
foreseeable . . . consequence” of defendant’s conduct. Owens, 864 F.3d at 794 (cleaned up). In
other FSIA cases, evidence meeting this standard has included financial support for the terrorist
organization, logistical support for insurgent training, the provision of weapons, and the bolstering
of the organization’s operational capacity. See, e.g., Frost v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 383 F.
Supp. 3d 33, 48 (D.D.C. 2019).
Plaintiffs have met their burden. For one, Defendants’ actions were a substantial factor in
the bellwether attacks. As other courts have found based on the same evidence presented here,
Iran facilitated the bellwether attacks through the IRGC-QF and Hezbollah. See Karcher, 396 F.
Supp. 3d at 30–52; Lee, 518 F. Supp. 3d at 485–90. And Defendants provided critical funding to
both groups. See ECF No. 95 ¶ 75 (“Since [Bank Markazi] operates as the Iranian government’s
banker, it is my expert opinion that Iran could not have transferred millions of dollars to a foreign
terrorist group without the funds passing through [Bank Markazi] in one way or another.”); ECF
No. 110 ¶ 62 (“[A] straight-line links Iran’s oil income and its ability to sponsor terrorism, build
weapons of mass destruction, and acquire sophisticated armaments.” (quoting Iran Oil Sanctions
Act of 1996, HR Rep 104-523, pt 1, 104th Cong, 2d Sess. (1996), available at https://www.con-
gress.gov/congressional-report/104th-congress/house-report/523/1.)). Defendants were also “sig-
nificant players in Iran’s efforts to disguise its involvement in proliferation and terrorism activities
through an array of deceptive practices specifically designed to evade detection.” ECF No. 97-1
¶ 180 (cleaned up). Bank Melli specifically facilitated the purchase of materials used to make
EFPs—the weapon used in six of the seven bellwether attacks. Id. ¶ 133.
The bellwether plaintiffs’ injuries were also a reasonably foreseeable consequence of De-
fendants’ funding of the IRGC-QF and Hezbollah. See Roth, 78 F. Supp. 3d at 394 (stating that
the FSIA sets a relatively low bar for proximate cause). In other cases, sufficient evidence of
22
foreseeability included backing the organization at issue despite knowledge of its violent tactics
and encouraging an escalation of terrorist behavior. See id. (finding injuries stemming from a
bombing were a foreseeable result of Iran’s material support of a terrorist organization because
Iran encouraged an increase in terrorist activities); Wyatt v. Syrian Arab Republic, 908 F. Supp. 2d
216, 228 (D.D.C. 2012) (finding injuries because of a kidnapping were a foreseeable result of
Syria’s support of the Kurdistan Workers Party because Syria bankrolled the organization, know-
ing that they used violent tactics). IRGC-QF and Hezbollah’s support for terrorism was well
known. See ECF No. 95 ¶¶ 28–31; see also Designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps, PX-213; Ann. Threat Assessment of the Director of Nat’l Intel. for the Senate Select Comm.
on Intel., PX-16 at 13. And their role in the bellwether attacks specifically is no surprise: as the
Karcher court found, “[a]mong Iran’s foreign activities, its campaign in Iraq figures prominently.”
Karcher, 396 F. Supp. 3d at 22. Simply put, the deaths of and injuries sustained by American
soldiers in Iraq were, at minimum, a predictable—if not intended—consequence of Defendants’
support for IRGC-QF and Hezbollah.
* * *
For these reasons, the Court finds that it has subject-matter jurisdiction over the bellwether
plaintiffs’ claims.
B. Personal Jurisdiction
The next requirement to impose judgment on a foreign state under the FSIA is personal
jurisdiction. Personal jurisdiction over a foreign state turns on a showing of (1) subject-matter
23
jurisdiction under the FSIA and (2) proper service under the FSIA. 28 U.S.C. § 1330(b). As
Plaintiffs have already satisfied the first requirement, the Court turns to the second.
28 U.S.C. § 1608(b) outlines different methods of serving agencies or instrumentalities of
foreign states in the order in which plaintiffs must attempt them:
(1) by delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint in accordance with any
special arrangement for service between the plaintiff and the agency or instrumen-
tality; or
(2) if no special arrangement exists, by delivery of a copy of the summons and
complaint either to an officer, a managing or general agent, or to any other agent
authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process in the United
States; or in accordance with an applicable international convention on service of
judicial documents; or
(3) if service cannot be made under paragraphs (1) or (2), and if reasonably calcu-
lated to give actual notice, by delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint,
together with a translation of each into the official language of the foreign state—
(A) as directed by an authority of the foreign state or political subdivision
in response to a letter rogatory or request or
(B) by any form of mail requiring a signed receipt, to be addressed and dis-
patched by the clerk of the court to the agency or instrumentality to be
served, or
(C) as directed by order of the court consistent with the law of the place
where service is to be made.
28 U.S.C. § 1608(b).
Taking these methods of service in order, there is no special service arrangement between
Plaintiffs and Defendants, no Defendant has an officer or agent authorized to receive service of
process in the United States, and there is no applicable international convention on service of ju-
dicial documents; so neither § 1608(b)(1) nor (b)(2) provide a viable method of service. See ECF
No. 107 at 175; Est. of Hartwick v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 18-cv-1612 (CKK), 2020 WL
12968924, at *6 (D.D.C. Oct. 10, 2020) (finding that Bank Melli does not have an officer or agent
24
authorized to receive service in the United States and that there is no applicable international con-
vention for serving it); Est. of Hartwick, 2021 WL 6805391, at *8 (same for Bank Markazi and
National Oil); see also Holladay I, 406 F. Supp. 3d at 61–64; Williams v. Islamic Republic of Iran,
No. 18-cv-2425 (RDM), 2021 WL 1820263, at *5 (D.D.C. May 6, 2021). Thus, Plaintiffs properly
resorted to § 1608(b)(3)(B), through which they asked the Clerk of the Court to send Defendants
copies of the Summons and operative complaint (both in English and translated into Farsi). The
Clerk of Court did so via DHL Express. See ECF No. 21; Field et al., No. 17-cv-2126, ECF No.
13; Brooks et al., No. 17-cv-737, ECF No. 15. The service package was successfully delivered,
and representatives of each Defendant signed for them. See ECF Nos. 24–27; Field et al., No. 17-
cv-2126, ECF Nos. 14–16; Brooks et al., No. 17-cv-737, ECF Nos. 19–21. Thus, service was
proper. See, e.g., Est. of Hartwick, 2020 WL 12968924, at *6; Shoham, 2017 WL 2399454, at
*15.
One wrinkle remains. Generally, the Due Process Clause allows a court to exercise per-
sonal jurisdiction over a defendant not present within the forum when that defendant has “certain
minimum contacts with [the forum] such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend tradi-
tional notions of fair play and substantial justice.” Int’l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310,
316 (1945). And while those protections do not extend to foreign states, they can apply to the
agencies or instrumentalities of a foreign state. See TMR Energy Ltd. v. State Prop. Fund of Ukr.,
411 F.3d 296, 300 (D.C. Cir. 2005). “The question turns on whether the foreign state in question
exercised sufficient, plenary control over the entity to make it an agent of the state—one that is
‘barely distinguishable from an executive department of the government.’” Shoham, 2017 WL
2399454, at *15 (quoting TMR Energy, 411 F.3d at 301–02).
25
Defendants here are sufficiently controlled by Iran to make them agents of the state, alle-
viating any due process concerns. Although each has significant commercial functions, each is
“funded, regulated by, and primarily owned by Iran or persons and entities under control of the
Iranian government.” Shoham, 2017 WL 2399454, at *15; see supra. Further, they have roles in
setting government policy, and their activities are governed by the constitution and legislative acts
of Iran. See ECF No. 95 ¶ 58 (describing Irani governmental control of Bank Markazi); ¶ 97 (Bank
Melli’s role “central to the government’s banking needs”); ¶ 115 (National Oil’s constitutional
authorities and “state policy functions”). All in all, Defendants are agents of Iran—“barely distin-
guishable from an executive department.” Shoham, 2017 WL 2399454, at *15. Thus, “no further
minimum contacts analysis is required, and the Court may exercise personal jurisdiction over [De-
fendants] based solely on service under 28 U.S.C. § 1330.” Id.C. Liability
Having already concluded that the Court possesses subject-matter jurisdiction, little else is
needed to show that Defendants are liable for the bellwether claims at issue. 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(c).
The private right of action in the FSIA terrorism exception provides that a foreign government is
liable to a United States citizen “for personal injury or death that was caused by an act of torture,
extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, or the provision of material support or re-
sources for such an act.” 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(a)(1), (c). “Essentially, liability under § 1605A(c)
will exist whenever the jurisdictional requirements of § 1605A(a)(1) are met.” Hekmati v. Islamic
Republic of Iran, 278 F. Supp. 3d 145, 163 (D.D.C. 2017).
As already mentioned, the bellwether plaintiffs who were injured but survived the attacks
are United States citizens. See Birth Certificate of Robert Bartlett, PX-172; Birth Certificate of
David Haines, PX-139; Birth Certificate of Christopher Levi, PX-143; Birth Certificate of Wesley
26
Williamson, PX-138; Birth Certificate of Robert Canine, PX-137; Birth Certificate of Johnny
Frank Washburn II, PX-64; Birth Certificate of Evan Kirby, PX-148; Birth Certificate of Marvin
Thornsberry, PX-149; Birth Certificate of Billy Wallace, PX-166. So § 1605A(c) gives them a
cause of action.
Those who died were also United States citizens. See Birth Certificate of George Delgado,
PX-142; Birth Certificate of Christopher Hake, PX-152; Birth Certificate of Johnathon Millican,
PX-147; Birth Certificate of Brian Freeman, PX-150. And although the Court does not have any
evidence confirming the citizenship of those representing the estates of those who were killed,
there is no need to confirm their citizenship status. “An estate of a plaintiff who would have had
standing to sue ‘is expressly covered by, and entitled to bring claims under, Section 1605A(c).’”
Doe v. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affs. Jungsong-Dong, 414 F.
Supp. 3d 109, 125 (D.D.C. 2019) (quoting Braun v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 228 F. Supp. 3d 64,
78–79 (D.D.C. 2017)). Thus, the legal representatives of their estates can bring suit under
§ 1605A(c) as well. See Braun, 228 F. Supp. 3d at 78; Henkin, 2021 WL 2914036, at *11.11
11
Some courts in this District have held that, while § 1605(A)(c) provides a cause of action, it
“does not itself provide the ‘substantive basis’ for claims brought under the FSIA.” Force v. Is-
lamic Republic of Iran, 464 F. Supp. 3d 323, 361 (D.D.C. 2020). Thus, FSIA plaintiffs must
“prove a [specific] theory of liability.” Valore, 700 F. Supp. 2d at 73. Such theories of liability
are based on “well-established principles of law, such as those found in the Restatement (Second)
of Torts and other leading treatises.” Maalouf v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 16-cv-0280 (JDB),
2020 WL 805726, at *5 (D.D.C. Feb. 18, 2020) (quoting Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 879
F. Supp. 2d 44, 54 (D.D.C. 2012)). Even if such a showing is required, the bellwether plaintiffs
have met their burden. The facts they have established prove that Defendants are vicariously liable
under theories of intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault, battery, wrongful death, and
survivorship. See ECF No. 107 at 179–98. Plaintiffs also argue that Defendants are vicariously
liable under a theory of solatium for family member plaintiffs. But as the Court has explained, the
liability claims of family members will addressed another day.
27
IV. Conclusion
For all these reasons, the Court will grant Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Default Judgment.
ECF No. 111. A separate order will issue.
/s/ Timothy J. Kelly
TIMOTHY J. KELLY
United States District Judge
Date: September 12, 2022
28