Sept. 11 Families Sue Saudis, Banks

[Nemesis]

LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press Writer

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.

Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Cactus]

Quote:

Originally posted by AsianElvis@Aug 16 2002, 12:46 AM
It's not the money. We want to do something to get at these people

Not to change to topic or anything, but we (Europeans) often find it hilarious the way US Citizens abuse the legal system.

Yesterday for instance there was another topic on one of our news programs that stated a group of americans are going have a law-suite again the fast-food restaurants because of the fact that they became fat. Now come on people, did McDonalds stuff the food down our throats? Or did we just like it, and agains better judgement kept eating it. Is that the fault of the fast-food market?

And the nicotine/sigaret lawsuites... Didn't people know that smoking could cause cancer? Are people really that ignorant?

And then there is that story of that an old lady got millions from a mircowave manufacterer because they lacked to mention that you can't put your cat in the microwave to make it dry when it fell in the water. She also claimed millions. Really wierd that she won. . .

Oh, and the fact that you have to leave a hospital by wheelchair. Just because the hospital will get sued if you trip on anything. And not for a dollar, but again for millions. You know, the same institute that cured you. . .

Somehow I think it ain't the way. . .

If we want to point out something, we claim that compnies pay for the dammage. That seems fair doesn't it?
Claiming trillions from third-world countries will only set them back even further. With all concequences . . .


Just a (european/dutch) though, don't flame me for it

Cheers!

[MinnesotaKid]

Hey Le Cactus,

Are you in an area of Europe that has been flooded? Very sad what I see on the news.

As far as the lawsuit, I think it's fine, but I don't see them getting any money in the end. I guess we should go after the money, but what the US needs to find and kill the people who act to destroy our country. But we also need to be more consistent in our foreign policy.

[Cactus]

No luckely I'm not. It's bizar the amount of water that came from the skies. Anoter topic better not discused around here: the environment
The rain has stopped for now, but a lot of rivers still rise the water level. Really, millions, maybe even billions of dollars of damages, and worse, some really old culture stuff is lost. And that isn't replacable with any amount of money

And for the other stuff: Kill every terrorist, I totaly agree. But claiming money isn't gonna solve anything. They will signup with other banks who will gladly take care of their account. Hey, business is business.

Cheers!

[Nemesis]

I agree with you, Le Cactus about US citizens being too litigation-happy. I am a smoker (but not for long) and I'd like to give those smokers who have sued a swift kick in the rear for doing what they did.

The suit against McDonald's and other fast food restaraunts is also silly and I feel pity for the lawyer(s) who picked up the case. This includes the one with the lady who sued because she burned herself on the coffee a couple years back.

IMHO, it isn't necessarily the citizens who abuse the legal system rather, it could be the lawyers who agree to represent such cases.

I also agree with you, Le Cactus about suing for the 9/11 Terrorist Attack. Suing is probably not the answer.

I agree with MinnesotaKid about finding (not necessarily killing) the terrorists who attacked us and bringing them to justice through the judicial system. I'll be the first one to admit that the US judicial system is kinda whacky when it comes to certain things, but it's an integral part of the US democracy (and many other countries' similar systems).

[skloo77]

Pardon me if I have offended, but talking about all those lawsuit such as the Macs, Smoking causing cancer, microwaving the cat...... It is funny how people behave and funnier that there are professionals that help these funny people achieve their claims.

I mean come on, it's not as if they don't understand English or what, or are they so uninformed of the products that they are going to consume or use. Somehow, the judges (i don't know how they think) seems to always award those who files the lawsuit.

This kind of rubbish won't and will never happen in my country. It will only make people laugh their heads off.


As for the Sep 11 incident, I would totally agree to apprehend those idiots. They have really caused pain and agony to thousands and thousands of people. But the lawsuit again, I would agree will Le Catus. (Kind of makes me laugh). I believe there are any better options out there (at least better than spending hard earned money on getting lawyers to fight your case but what if in the end you lose the case, crap, money wasted)

[Shiromagius]

I am completely with all of you on the lawsuit issue. Rediculous! I think a lot of the suits are a result of Americans trying to get every penny we can for whatever small thing we can. If an oppertunity arises, we will take it (stereotypically speaking). And if you are going to take the oppertunity, why not go all out and get as much as you can? Unfortunatly, this is the mentality of a lot of Americans. This is why you see billion dollar suits over 5 dollars worth of damage. Another reason for all these suits are... the people that are actually suing are usually no smarter than a nail in a piece of wood. The guy suing the fast food industry... that is just stupid. He should be locked up and the key thrown away for being so stupid. And unforuntatly again, its people like that who are giving America the image of "fat lazy couch-potatoe slobs." Ok, I am done ranting

[Jessica]

"Sept. 11 Families Sue Saudis, Banks
Waste of money, time, energy?"

True.