FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 1, 2001

CONTACT: Joanne Doroshow or Emily Gottlieb
212/267-2801; 917/438-4621; 917/548-5263

CJ&D RELEASES PRIMER ON WAR, TERRORISM AND THE U.S. CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM

The Center for Justice & Democracy today released Restoring Shattered Lives: A Primer on War Terrorism and the U.S. Civil Justice System. Says co-author and CJ&D Deputy Director Emily Gottlieb, “Given today’s world situation, further acts of terrorism both here and abroad, war crimes, torture, disappearances, imprisonment, hostage-taking and other scenarios are all possibilities that, while awful to think about, historically have accompanied many violent confrontations and wars. The United States has the best civil justice system in the world for dealing with these kinds of atrocities, war crimes and human rights violations. This Primer explains how.”

Joanne Doroshow, co-author and CJ&D Executive Director, says, “Given current events, people around the world have many unanswered questions about the options available for victims of war and terrorism. Under what authority can individuals sue Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan? What remedies are available to survivors of possible terrorist attacks in the future? What if war crimes are committed during this protracted war or American citizens are taken hostage or imprisoned? What if it is discovered that U.S. corporations, like oil companies operating abroad, have assisted a government that has committed human rights abuses? Our laws and our courts may provide a civil remedy to the victims in each of these scenarios.”

The Primer includes Appendices describing over 60 completed and pending cases involving circumstances that could be relevant to today’s world situation.

Click here for the full text of the study: Restoring Shattered Lives: A Primer on War, Terrorism and the U.S. Civil Justice System (pdf format)
Available Free to CJ&D Members Only. Non-members should contact CJ&D)