Sept. 11 victims' families sue Saudis, banks

Associated Press via Sun Media ^ | August 15, 2002 | Laurie Kellman

[Clive]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than 600 family members of Sept. 11 victims filed a 15-count, trillion-dollar federal lawsuit Thursday against Saudi officials and institutions, charging they financed Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.

The suit, modeled after action filed against Libya in the Pan Am flight 103 disaster, seeks to cripple banks, charities and some members of the Saudi royal family -- as well as vengeance for the families of those who perished, the plaintiffs said.

"It's not the money. We want to do something to get at these people," said Irene Spina, whose daughter, Lisa L. Trerotola, 38, perished in the World Trade Center. "There's nothing else we can do."

The 258-page complaint, filed electronically Thursday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, says the plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 trillion. Lead attorney Ron Motley said the money is likely to come largely from assets held by the defendants in the United States.

It names more than seven dozen defendants, including the government of Sudan, seven banks, eight Islamic foundations and three Saudi princes.

Those listed include Mohammed al Faisal al Saud, Turki al Faisal al Saud, and Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, Khalid bin Salim bin Mahfouz, the National Commercial Bank, and the Faisal Islamic Bank.

"That kingdom sponsors terrorism," said Motley. "This is an insidious group of people."

Officials from the Saudi Embassy did not immediately return a call for comment.

President Bush's administration has been careful not to blame the Saudi government for the attacks in its drive build a coalition for its war against terrorism.

Prince Saud said last week that 70-year-old U.S.-Saudi alliance was just as solid now as before the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.

He said Osama bin Laden, who was stripped of Saudi citizenship and who directed the al-Qaida attacks, had intended to drive a wedge between the two countries when he chose 15 Saudi citizens to be among the 19 hijackers.

[Gurn]

Ron Motley is a multi-millionaire lawyer who made his fortune in the asbestos racket. He's a mean sumbitch.

For the first time in my life, I'm pulling for him.

[weikel]

Sounds like just like the kind of ambulance chaser we need right now.

[anymouse]

Like I said before, first we take Baghdad, then Riyadh.

[JohnGalt]

It's a sad comment on our culture. Frankly, I think it trivializes the tragedy and the truly inspriing outpouring of support for the victims families. There are no more grounds for a lawsuit here than the Sudan had against the United States after being on the receiving end of unprovoked cruise missiles.

[BossLady]

Nothing else seems to be happening....maybe freezing a few bank accounts will work.

[Gurn]

I must respectfully disagree. It's the one way to punish them, since our government insists on perpetuating the "Saudi Arabia is our ally" charade.

Take the rag heads' oil money, and they're nothing but a collection of barbaric goat-herders.

[NEWwoman]

Sounds like they are bringing out the "big guns" on the war on terror.

Send in the lawyers!

[paul51]

The suit, modeled after action filed against Libya in the Pan Am flight 103 disaster, seeks to cripple banks, charities and some members of the Saudi royal family

I'm afraid it sounds more like a suit which seeks to enrich the attorneys

[Valin]

It's the one way to punish them, since our government insists on perpetuating the "Saudi Arabia is our ally"

You they're not? < /sarcasm>

[bloggerjohn]

What, our "friends" the Saudis?

I've been saying this for months, but our corrupt prostitute media has refused to say a word. Now they've been dragged kicking and screaming by 600 bereaved families to provide cursory coverage, although I notice the network news I watched did Not make it clear the Saudis were involved. How circumspect of them.

These brave families will get NO cooperation from our government or out rotten state department. If anything they will be blocked and harassed by the government.

[Gurn]

I can tell you the first defense that'll be raised by the Saudis and their corporations that are sued: The Foreign Sovreign Immunity Act.

I've represented foreign corporations, and if they're majority-owned by a government, they have considerable immunity. Don't know that it will fly for all of the defendants, but get ready for it.