Summary
adopting recommendation that no solatium damages be awarded where record does not contain sufficient evidence to support claims
Summary of this case from Sheikh v. Republic of SudanOpinion
Civil Action No. 08–1349 (JDB)
2014-07-25
Winfred Wairimu Wamai, et al., Plaintiffs, v. Republic of Sudan, et al., Defendants.
Allen Louis Rothenberg, Law Firm of Allen L. Rothenberg, Philadelphia, PA, Michael Joseph Miller, The Miller Firm, LLC, Orange, VA, Gavriel Mairone, MM–Law LLC, Chicago, IL, for Plaintiffs.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
, United States District Judge
Over fifteen years ago, on August 7, 1998, the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were devastated by simultaneous suicide bombings that killed hundreds of people and injured over a thousand. This Court has entered final judgment on liability under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”) in this civil action and several related cases—brought by victims of the bombings and their families—against the Republic of Sudan, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Sudan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, and the Iranian Ministry of Information and Security (collectively “defendants”) for their roles in supporting, funding, and otherwise carrying out these unconscionable acts. The next step in the case is to assess and award damages to each individual plaintiff, and in this task the Court has been aided by several special masters.
The 196 plaintiffs in this case are Kenyan and Tanzanian citizens injured and killed in the bombings and their immediate family members. Service of process was completed upon each defendant, but defendants failed to respond, and a default was entered against each of them. The Court has held that it has jurisdiction over defendants and that the foreign national plaintiffs who worked for the U.S. government are entitled to compensation for personal injury and wrongful death under 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(c)(3). See Owens v. Republic of Sudan, 826 F.Supp.2d 128, 148–51 (D.D.C.2011). The Court has also held that, although those plaintiffs who are foreign national family members of victims lack a federal cause of action, they may nonetheless pursue claims under the laws of the District of Columbia. Id. at 153–57. A final judgment on liability was entered in favor of plaintiffs. Nov. 28, 2011 Order [ECF No. 54] at 2. The deposition testimony and other evidence presented established that defendants were responsible for supporting, funding, and otherwise carrying out the bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. See Owens, 826 F.Supp.2d at 135–47.
A few plaintiffs are not immediate family members, but as explained below, the Court will not award damages to those plaintiffs.
A large number of plaintiffs are listed as plaintiffs both in this case and in the related case before this Court, Amduso v. Republic of Sudan, No. 08–1361, 61 F.Supp.3d 42, 2014 WL 3687126 (D.D.C. July 25, 2014). Initially, plaintiffs in these two cases were represented by two different sets of attorneys. Some plaintiffs signed retainer agreements with both sets of attorneys, and so appeared as plaintiffs in both cases. Following mediation with Magistrate Judge Facciola, the attorneys settled the issue of which plaintiffs were represented by whom by signing a cooperation agreement and entering into joint representation of plaintiffs in both cases. See Amduso, No. 08–1361 [ECF Nos. 54–57]. Of course, plaintiffs are entitled to only one award. As this case is the earlier-filed case, and because the joint representation vitiates any conflict between counsel, the Court will award damages in this case to plaintiffs appearing in both cases, and will deny those same plaintiffs awards in Amduso.
Similarly, a small number of plaintiffs are listed in this case and in two other cases pending before this Court: the Onsongo case (No. 08–1380), and the Opati case (No. 12–1224). Those plaintiffs will be awarded damages in this case, but will not be awarded damages in those cases.
The Court then referred plaintiffs' claims to several special masters to prepare proposed findings and recommendations for a determination of damages. Feb. 27, 2012 Order Appointing Special Masters [ECF No. 57] at 2. The special masters have now filed completed reports on each plaintiff. See Special Master Reports [ECF Nos. 63–241]. In completing those reports and in finding facts, the special masters relied on sworn testimony, expert reports, medical records, and other evidence. The reports extensively describe the key facts relevant to each of the plaintiffs and carefully analyze their claims under the framework established in mass tort terrorism cases. The Court commends each of the special masters for their excellent work and thorough analysis.
Those special masters (collectively, “the special masters”) are Kenneth L. Adams, John D. Aldock, Oliver Diaz, Jr., Deborah E. Greenspan, Brad Pigott, Stephen A. Saltzburg, and C. Jackson Williams.
The Court hereby adopts all facts found by the special masters relating to all plaintiffs in this case, including findings regarding the plaintiffs' employment status or their familial relationship necessary to support standing under section 1605A(a)(2)(A)(ii). See Owens, 826 F.Supp.2d at 149. The Court also adopts all damages recommendations in the reports, with the few adjustments described below. “Where recommendations deviate from the Court's damages framework, ‘those amounts shall be altered so as to conform with the respective award amounts set forth’ in the framework, unless otherwise noted.” Valore v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 700 F.Supp.2d 52, 82–83 (D.D.C.2010) (quoting Peterson v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 515 F.Supp.2d 25, 53 (D.D.C.2007) (“Peterson II”), abrogation on other grounds recognized in Mohammadi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 947 F.Supp.2d 48, 65 (D.D.C.2013)). As a result, the Court will award plaintiffs a total judgment of over $3.5 billion.
I. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
On November 28, 2011, the Court granted summary judgment on liability against defendants in this case. Nov. 28, 2011 Order [ECF No. 54] at 2. The foreign-national U.S.-government-employee victims have a federal cause of action, while their foreign-national family members have a cause of action under D.C. law.
a. The Government–Employee Plaintiffs Are Entitled To Damages On Their Federal Law Claims Under 28 U.S.C. § 1605A
“To obtain damages in a Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) action, the plaintiff must prove that the consequences of the defendants' conduct were reasonably certain (i.e., more likely than not) to occur, and must prove the amount of the damages by a reasonable estimate consistent with application of the American rule on damages.” Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 83. Plaintiffs here have proven that the consequences of defendants' conduct were reasonably certain to—and indeed intended to—cause injury to plaintiffs. See Owens, 826 F.Supp.2d at 135–46. As discussed by this Court previously, because the FSIA-created cause of action “does not spell out the elements of these claims that the Court should apply,” the Court “is forced ... to apply general principles of tort law” to determine plaintiffs' entitlement to damages on their federal claims. Id. at 157 n. 3.
Survivors are entitled to recover for the pain and suffering caused by the bombings: acts of terrorism “by their very definition” amount to extreme and outrageous conduct and are thus compensable by analogy under the tort of “intentional infliction of emotional distress.” Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 77 (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46(1) (1965)); see also Baker v. Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahi r ya, 775 F.Supp.2d 48, 74 (D.D.C.2011) (permitting plaintiffs injured in state-sponsored terrorist bombings to recover for personal injuries, including pain and suffering, under tort of “intentional infliction of emotional distress”); Estate of Bland v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 831 F.Supp.2d 150, 153 (D.D.C.2011) (same). Hence, “those who survived the attack may recover damages for their pain and suffering, ... [and for] economic losses caused by their injuries....” Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 879 F.Supp.2d 44, 55 (D.D.C.2012) ( “Oveissi II”) (citing Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 82–83); see28 U.S.C. § 1605A(c). Accordingly, all plaintiffs who were injured in the 1998 bombings can recover for their pain and suffering as well as their economic losses. Bland, 831 F.Supp.2d at 153. In addition, the estates of those who were killed in the attack are entitled to recover compensatory damages for wrongful death. See, e.g., Valore, 700 F.Supp. at 82 (permitting estates to recover economic damages caused to deceased victims' estates).
b. Family Members Who Lack A Federal Cause Of Action Are Entitled To Damages Under D.C. Law
This Court has previously held that it will apply District of Columbia law to the claims of any plaintiffs for whom jurisdiction is proper, but who lack a federal cause of action under the FSIA. Owens, 826 F.Supp.2d at 153–57. This category includes only the foreign-national family members of the injured victims from the 1998 bombings. Individuals in this category seek to recover solatium damages under D.C. law based on claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress. To establish a prima facie case of intentional infliction of emotional distress under D.C. law, a plaintiff must show: (1) extreme and outrageous conduct on the part of the defendant which, (2) either intentionally or recklessly, (3) causes the plaintiff severe emotional distress. Larijani v. Georgetown Univ., 791 A.2d 41, 44 (D.C.2002). Acts of terrorism “by their very definition” amount to extreme and outrageous conduct, Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 77; the defendants in this case acted intentionally and recklessly; and their actions caused each plaintiff severe emotional distress, see Owens, 826 F.Supp.2d at 136–45; Murphy v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 740 F.Supp.2d 51, 74–75 (D.D.C.2010). Likewise, D.C. law allows spouses and next of kin to recover solatium damages. D.C. Code § 16–2701. Based on the evidence submitted to the special masters, the Court concludes that the foreign national family members of the victims of the 1998 bombings have each made out claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress and are entitled to solatium damages (with the few exceptions detailed below).
II. DAMAGES
Having established that plaintiffs are entitled to damages, the Court now turns to the question of the amount of damages, which involves resolving common questions related to plaintiffs with similar injuries. The damages awarded to each plaintiff are laid out in the tables in the separate Order and Judgment issued on this date.
a. Compensatory Damages
1. Economic damages
Under the FSIA, injured victims and the estates of deceased victims may recover economic damages, which typically include lost wages, benefits and retirement pay, and other out-of-pocket expenses. 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(c). The special masters recommended that twenty-four deceased plaintiffs and four injured victims be awarded economic damages. To determine each plaintiff's economic losses resulting from the bombings, the special masters relied on economic reports submitted by the Center for Forensic Economic Studies (“CFES”), which estimated lost earnings, fringe benefits, retirement income, and the value of household services lost as a result of the injuries sustained from the bombing. In turn, CFES relied on information from the survivors as well as other documentation, including country-specific economic data and employment records. See, e.g., Report of Special Master Kenneth Adams Concerning Maurice Okatch Ogolla, Ex. 5 [ECF No. 70] at 45–47 (further explaining methodology employed in creating the economic loss reports). The Court adopts the findings and recommendations of the special masters as to economic losses to be awarded to injured victims and the estates of deceased victims.
2. Awards for pain and suffering due to injury
Courts determine pain-and-suffering awards for survivors based on factors including “the severity of the pain immediately following the injury, the length of hospitalization, and the extent of the impairment that will remain with the victim for the rest of his or her life.” O'Brien v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 853 F.Supp.2d 44, 46 (D.D.C.2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). When calculating damages amounts, “the Court must take pains to ensure that individuals with similar injuries receive similar awards.” Peterson II, 515 F.Supp.2d at 54. Recognizing this need for uniformity, courts in this district have developed a general framework for assessing pain-and-suffering damages for victims of terrorist attacks, awarding a baseline of $5 million to individuals who suffer severe physical injuries, such as compound fractures, serious flesh wounds, and scars from shrapnel, as well as lasting and severe psychological pain. See Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 84. Where physical and psychological pain is more severe—such as where victims suffered relatively more numerous and severe injuries, were rendered quadriplegic, partially lost vision and hearing, or were mistaken for dead—courts have departed upward from this baseline to $7 million and above. See O'Brien, 853 F.Supp.2d at 47. Similarly, downward departures to a range of $1.5 to $3 million are warranted where the victim suffers severe emotional injury accompanied by relatively minor physical injuries. See Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 84–85.
Damages for extreme pain and suffering are warranted for those individuals who initially survive the attack but then succumb to their injuries. “When the victim endured extreme pain and suffering for a period of several hours or less, courts in these [terrorism] cases have rather uniformly awarded $1 million.” Haim v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 425 F.Supp.2d 56, 71 (D.D.C.2006); see Peterson II, 515 F.Supp.2d at 53–55. When the period of the victim's pain is longer, the award increases. Haim, 425 F.Supp.2d at 72. And when the period is particularly brief, courts award less. For instance, where an individual “survived a terrorist attack for 15 minutes, and was in conscious pain for 10 minutes,” a court in this district awarded $500,000. See Peterson II, 515 F.Supp.2d at 53. To the estates of those who are killed instantly, courts award no pain-and-suffering damages.
According to the special masters, the evidence showed that four plaintiffs who died in the bombings did not die instantly, and that they suffered before they ultimately perished. The Court accepts the special masters' recommendations as to two of those plaintiffs. The Court adjusts the recommended award, consistent with Haim, to two plaintiffs whose pre-death suffering lasted for several hours: the Court will adjust Kimeu Nzioka Nganga's award from $2 million to $1 million and Bakari Nyumbu's from $3 million to $1 million. 425 F.Supp.2d at 71 (noting that courts uniformly award $1 million to victims who suffered for several hours before dying in this context). The Court adopts the special masters' recommendations not to award pain-and-suffering damages to the estates of those plaintiffs who were killed instantly.
For similar reasons, the Court accepts the special masters' recommendation that Teresia Wairimu Kamau, daughter of deceased victim Joseph Kamau Kiongo, receive no solatium award because she herself was killed in the same blast that killed her father. See Report of Special Master John Aldock Concerning Joseph Kamau Kiongo [ECF No. 79] at 9.
The need to maintain uniformity with awards to plaintiffs in prior cases and between plaintiffs in this case is particularly evident. A great number of plaintiffs were injured in the bombings. Those injuries, and evidence of those injuries, span a broad range. Although the special masters ostensibly applied the same guidelines, their interpretations of those guidelines understandably brought about recommendations of different awards even for plaintiffs who suffered very similar injuries—particularly those plaintiffs who did not suffer severe physical injuries. For those plaintiffs, the Valore court explained that downward departures to a range of $1.5 million to $3 million are appropriate, and the Court will apply that guideline as follows. 700 F.Supp.2d at 84–85.
Many plaintiffs suffered little physical injury—or none at all—but have claims based on severe emotional injuries because they were at the scene during the bombings or because they were involved in the extensive recovery efforts immediately thereafter. Those plaintiffs will be awarded $1.5 million. See id. Typical of this category is Edward Mwae Muthama, who was working at the offsite warehouse for the United States Embassy in Kenya when the bombings occurred. Report of Special Master John Aldock Concerning Edward Muthama [ECF No. 93] at 4. Shortly after the attack, Muthama headed to the blast site and spent days assisting with the gruesome recovery efforts; to this day he suffers from emotional distress resulting from his time administering aid to survivors and handling the dead bodies (and body parts) of his murdered colleagues. Id.
Other plaintiffs suffered minor injuries (such as lacerations and contusions caused by shrapnel), accompanied by severe emotional injuries. They will be awarded $2 million. Typical is Emily Minayo, who was on the first floor of the United States Embassy in Nairobi at the time of the bombing. Report of Special Master Brad Pigott Concerning Emily Minayo [ECF No. 162] at 4. She was thrown to the floor by the force of the blast, but she was lucky enough to escape with only lacerations that were later sewn up during a brief hospital stay. Id. She continues, however, to suffer from severe emotional damage resulting from her experience. Id.
Their injuries were “minor” only relative to the injuries suffered by others in this case.
To those who suffered more serious physical injuries, such as broken bones, head trauma, some hearing or vision impairment, or impotence, the Court will award $2.5 million. Typical is Francis Maina Ndibui, who was in the United States Embassy in Nairobi during the bombing. Report of Special Master Brad Pigott Concerning Francis Maina Ndibui [ECF No. 152] at 4. Ndibui became temporarily trapped under debris that fell from the ceiling, and he suffered minor lacerations similar to Minayo's. Id. Also as a result of the bombing, he continues to suffer from partial vision impairment, which has persisted even through reparative surgery. Id. He also suffers from severe emotional damage resulting from his experience. Id.
Plaintiffs with even more serious injuries—including spinal injuries not resulting in paralysis, more serious shrapnel injuries, head trauma, or serious hearing impairment—will be awarded $3 million. Typical is Victor Mpoto, who was at the United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam on the day of the bombing. Report of Special Master Jackson Williams Concerning Victor Mpoto [ECF No. 136] at 3. The blast knocked him to the ground and covered him in debris, causing minor physical injuries. Id. Because he was only about fifteen meters away from the blast, he suffered severe hearing loss in both ears that continues to this day and for which he continues to receive treatment. Id. He also suffers from severe emotional damage resulting from his experience. Id. at 4.
Those who suffered from injuries similar to those plaintiffs who are generally awarded the “baseline” award of $5 million (involving some mix of serious hearing or vision impairment, many broken bones, severe shrapnel wounds or burns, lengthy hospital stays, serious spinal or head trauma, and permanent injuries) will also be awarded that baseline. See Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 84. Typical is Pauline Abdallah, who was injured in the bombing of the United States Embassy in Nairobi. Report of Special Master Stephen Saltzburg Concerning Pauline Abdallah [ECF No. 117] at 3. She was knocked unconscious by the blast, and later spent about a month in the hospital. Id. She suffered severe shrapnel wounds requiring skin grafts, third-degree burns, and two of her fingers were amputated. Id. Shrapnel still erupts from her skin. Id. She also suffered severe hearing loss. Id. Like other plaintiffs who were injured in the bombing, she suffers from severe emotional damage. Id. at 3–4.
And for a few plaintiffs, who suffered even more grievous wounds such as lost eyes, extreme burns, severe skull fractures, brain damage, ruptured lungs, or endured months of recovery in hospitals, upward departures to $7.5 million are in order.
Livingstone Busera Madahana was injured in the blast at the United States Embassy in Nairobi. Report of Special Master Kenneth Adams Concerning Livingstone Busera Madahana [ECF No. 175] at 4. Shrapnel from the blast completely destroyed his right eye and permanently damaged his left. Id. He suffered a skull fracture and spent months in a coma; his head trauma caused problems with his memory and cognition. Id. “He endured multiple surgeries, skin grafts, physical therapy, vocational rehabilitation, speech and cognitive therapy, and psychotherapy for depression.” Id.
Gideon Maritim was injured in the blast at the United States Embassy in Nairobi. Report of Special Master Jackson Williams Concerning Gideon Maritim [ECF No. 222] at 3. The second explosion knocked him unconscious for several hours. Id. at 4 The blast ruptured his eardrums, knocked out several teeth, and embedded metal fragments into his eyes. Id. He also suffered deep shrapnel wounds to his legs and stomach, and his lungs were ruptured. Id. His hearing is permanently impaired, as is his lung function. Id. at 5. And he suffers from chronic back and shoulder pain. Id.
Charles Mwaka Mulwa was injured in the blast at the United States Embassy in Nairobi. Report of Special Master Jackson Williams Concerning Charles Mwaka Mulwa [ECF No. 132] at 3. The bomb blast permanently disfigured his skull, ruptured both his eardrums, and embedded glass in his eyes. Id. He continues to suffer from nearly total hearing loss, and his eyesight is permanently diminished. Id. And he suffered from other shrapnel injuries to his head, arms, and legs. Id.
Tobias Oyanda Otieno was injured in the blast at the United States Embassy in Nairobi. Report of Special Master Brad Pigott Concerning Tobias Oyanda Otieno [ECF No. 181] at 4. The blast caused permanent blindness in his left eye, and substantial blindness in his right. Id. He suffered severe shrapnel injuries all over his body, including a particularly severe injury to his hand, which resulted in permanent impairment. Id. His lower back was also permanently damaged, causing continuous pain to this day. Id. He spent nearly a year recovering in hospitals. Id.
Moses Kinyua was injured in the blast at the United States Embassy in Nairobi. Report of Special Master Deborah Greenspan Concerning Moses Kinyua [ECF No. 202] at 4. The blast knocked him into a coma for three weeks. Id. His skull was crushed, his jaw was fractured in four places, and he lost his left eye. Id. The head trauma resulted in brain damage. Id. In addition, he suffered from a ruptured eardrum, a detached retina in his right eye, a dislocated shoulder, broken fingers, and serious shrapnel injuries. Id. He was ultimately hospitalized for over six months. Id.
Joash Okindo was injured in the blast at the United States Embassy in Nairobi. Report of Special Master Brad Pigott Concerning Joash Okindo [ECF No. 163] at 4. He spent about eight months in hospitals, and was in a coma for the first month because he suffered a skull fracture. Id. at 4–5. He suffered from severe shrapnel injuries to his head, back, legs, and hands, and the blast fractured bones in both of his legs. Id. at 4.
Each of these plaintiffs also suffered severe emotional injuries. The injuries suffered by these plaintiffs are comparable to those suffered by plaintiffs who were awarded $7–$8 million in Peterson II. See515 F.Supp.2d at 55–57 (e.g., Michael Toma, who suffered “various cuts from shrapnel, internal bleeding in his urinary system, a deflated left lung, and a permanently damaged right ear drum”). Hence, the Court will award each of these plaintiffs $7.5 million for pain and suffering. The Court adopts the recommendations by special masters of awards consistent with the adjusted guidelines described above, and will adjust inconsistent awards accordingly.
3. Solatium
“In determining the appropriate amount of compensatory damages, the Court may look to prior decisions awarding damages for pain and suffering, and to those awarding damages for solatium.” Acosta v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 574 F.Supp.2d 15, 29 (D.D.C.2008). Only immediate family members—parents, siblings, spouses, and children—are entitled to solatium awards. See Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 79. The commonly accepted framework for solatium damages in this district is that used in Peterson II, 515 F.Supp.2d at 52. See Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 85; Belkin, 667 F.Supp.2d at 23. According to Peterson II, the appropriate amount of damages for family members of deceased victims is as follows: $8 million to spouses of deceased victims, $5 million to parents of deceased victims, and $2.5 million to siblings of deceased victims. 515 F.Supp.2d at 52. The appropriate amount of damages for family members of injured victims is as follows: $4 million to spouses of injured victims, $2.5 million to parents of injured victims, and $1.25 million to siblings of injured victims. Id. Courts in this district have differed somewhat on the proper amount awarded to children of victims. Compare Peterson II, 515 F.Supp.2d at 51 ($2.5 million to child of injured victim), with Davis v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 882 F.Supp.2d 7, 14 (D.D.C.2012) ($1.5 million to child of injured victim).The Court finds the Peterson IIapproach to be more appropriate: to the extent such suffering can be quantified, children who lose parents are likely to suffer as much as parents who lose children. Children of injured victims will thus be awarded $2.5 million and, consistent with the Peterson II approach of doubling solatium awards for relatives of deceased victims, children of deceased victims will be awarded $5 million.
The Court adopts Special Master Jackson Williams's recommendation that the common-law wife of Peter Macharia, Grace Gicho, be awarded solatium damages, for the reasons discussed in the thorough special master report. See Report of Special Master Jackson Williams Concerning Peter Macharia [ECF No. 242] at 5–8.
Many of the family members of injured or deceased victims in this case are plaintiffs not here but in the related Amduso, Onsongo, and Opati cases before this Court. See Compl., Amduso, No. 08–1361 [ECF No. 5] at 1838; Compl., Onsongo v. Republic of Sudan, No. 08–1380 [ECF No. 3] at 19–26; 2nd Amend. Compl., Opati v. Republic of Sudan, 978 F.Supp.2d 65 (D.D.C.2013) [ECF No. 24] at 26–83. As explained in this Court's July 25, 2014 opinion in Amduso, those family members' solatium awards—granted in that case—are properly based on the awards to injured or deceased victims in this case.
Although these amounts are guidelines, not rules, see Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 86, the Court finds the distinctions made by the Valore court to be responsible and reasonable, and hence it will adopt the same guidelines for determining solatium damages here. In the interests of fairness and to account for the difficulty in assessing the relative severity of each family member's suffering, in this case and in related cases, the Court will depart from those guidelines only for a few plaintiffs for whom the special master's report is particularly convincing.
The special master's report on two of the plaintiffs, Titus Wamai and Diana Williams, shows clearly that reduced awards are appropriate based on extended periods of pre-bombing separation and substantially attenuated relationships with their father, who was killed in the Nairobi bombings. See Report of Special Master Deborah Greenspan Concerning Adam Titus Wamai [ECF No. 92] at 4–5. Hence, those plaintiffs will be awarded half the normal amount awarded to children of deceased victims, or $2.5 million.
One deceased Kenyan victim, Joseph Kamau Kiongo, had three wives at the time of his death. Report of Special Master John Aldock Concerning Joseph Kamau Kiongo [ECF No. 79] at 5. Four more, Geoffrey Mulu Kalio, Dominic Musyoka Kithuva, Frederick Maloba, and Vincent Kamau Nyoike, each had two wives when they were killed. Report of Special Master Deborah Greenspan Concerning Geoffrey Mulu Kalio [ECF No. 211] at 3; Report of Special Master Oliver Diaz Concerning Dominic Musyoka Kithuva [ECF No. 217] at 3; Report of Special Master Jackson Williams Concerning Frederick Maloba [ECF No. 229] at 3; Report of Special Master Jackson Williams Concerning Vincent Kamau Nyoike [ECF No. 239] at 3. Courts in Kenya generally recognize that more than one wife of a decedent may be entitled to an inheritance, and so this Court will consider each of these wives (Lucy Kiongo, Alice Kiongo, Jane Kamau, Jane Kathuka, Bernice Ndeti, Kamali Musyoka Kithuva, Beatrice Martha Kithuva, Elizabeth Maloba, Margaret Maloba, and Josinda Katumba Kamau) to be immediate family members entitled to solatium awards. See Charity Gacheri Kaburu v. Mary Gacheri M'ritaa, Succession Cause No. 251 of 2000 (High Court of Kenya 2014) (appointing both widows as joint administrators). Under the circumstances, the Court will exercise its discretion, adopt the special masters' recommendations, and award the normal solatium amount for a deceased spouse to each of the deceased's widows. A different approach might involve pro rata awards of the normal solatium amount—and that may be appropriate in cases involving larger numbers of spouses—but just as multiple children do not receive pro rata shares, for similar reasons, the Court will award the full amount to each spouse.
Available at http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/99160.
In some instances, special masters recommended that spouses of deceased victims receive $10 million. See, e.g., Report of Special Master Kenneth L. Adams Concerning Lawrence Ambrose Gitau [ECF No. 69] at 5. Because the Court adopts the Peterson IIguidelines, each of these recommendations will be adjusted and those plaintiffs will be awarded $8 million. 515 F.Supp.2d at 52. Similarly, in some instances, special masters recommended that parents of deceased victims receive $3.5 million. See, e.g., Report of Special Master Brad Pigott Concerning Eric Abur Onyango [ECF No. 127] at 9–11. The Court will increase those awards to $5 million. Peterson II, 515 F.Supp.2d at 52.
The special masters also recommended against awarding solatium damages to some injured victims' children who were born after the bombings occurred. Although the Court acknowledges that the bombings' terrible impact on the victims and their families continues to this day, in similar cases courts have found that children born following terrorist attacks are not entitled to damages under the FSIA. See Davis, 882 F.Supp.2d at 15; Wultz v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 864 F.Supp.2d 24, 36 (D.D.C.2012). In holding that a plaintiff must have been alive at the time of an attack to recover solatium damages, the Davis court recognized the need to draw lines in order to avoid creating “an expansive and indefinite scope of liability” under the FSIA—or example, liability to children born fifteen years after an attack (a real possibility in this drawn-out litigation). 882 F.Supp.2d at 15. The Court agrees with the special masters and with the Davis court's interpretation of the FSIA, and holds that those plaintiffs not alive at the time of the bombings cannot recover solatium damages. Hence, the Court dismisses the claims of Rachel Wambui Watoro (born one month after the bombings). See Report of Special Master John Aldock Concerning Francis Watoro Maina [ECF No. 119] at 6.
For one plaintiff, the special masters recommended that no solatium damages be awarded because the record does not contain sufficient evidence to support her claims. See Peterson, 515 F.Supp.2d at 46. The Court adopts that recommendation, and so Fatuma Omar will not be awarded damages. See Report of Special Master Oliver Diaz Concerning Hindu Omari Idi [ECF No. 197] at 6.
The Court finds that the special masters have appropriately applied the solatium damages framework to most of the plaintiffs in this case, and will adopt their recommendations with a few exceptions. Other courts in this district have held that it is inappropriate for the solatium awards of family members to exceed the pain-and-suffering awards of surviving victims. See Davis, 882 F.Supp.2d at 15; O'Brien, 853 F.Supp.2d at 47; Bland, 831 F.Supp.2d at 157. The Court will follow that approach here. The special masters recommended solatium awards exceeding the pain-and-suffering awards to the related victim in several cases, albeit sometimes inadvertently, because of this Court's adjustment of pain-and-suffering awards. Hence, the Court will reduce those solatium awards to match corresponding pain-and-suffering awards where appropriate.
Some special master reports mistakenly refer to solatium awards as pain-and-suffering awards. See, e.g., Report of Special Master Jackson Williams Concerning Josiah Owuor [ECF No. 237] at 6–7. In those instances—where recommendations are consistent with the guidelines discussed herein—the Court adopts the amount of damages but rejects the special master's recommendation that the plaintiffs be awarded pain-and-suffering damages.
b. Punitive Damages
Plaintiffs request punitive damages under section 1605A(c). Punitive damages “serve to punish and deter the actions for which they are awarded.” Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 87. Courts calculate the proper amount of punitive damages by considering four factors: “(1) the character of the defendants' act, (2) the nature and extent of harm to the plaintiffs that the defendants caused or intended to cause, (3) the need for deterrence, and (4) the wealth of the defendants.” Oveissi II, 879 F.Supp.2d at 56 (quoting Acosta, 574 F.Supp.2d at 30). In this case, the first three factors weigh heavily in favor of an award of punitive damages: the character of defendants' actions and the nature and extent of harm to plaintiffs can accurately be described as horrific. Scores were murdered, hundreds of families were torn asunder, and thousands of lives were irreparably damaged. The need for deterrence here is tremendous. And although specific evidence in the record on defendants' wealth is scant, they are foreign states with substantial wealth.
Previous courts in this district, confronted with similar facts, have calculated punitive damages in different ways. See, e.g., Baker, 775 F.Supp.2d at 85 (surveying cases). One attractive method often used in FSIA cases is to multiply defendants' annual expenditures on terrorist activities by a factor of three to five. See, e.g., Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 88–90. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence in the record on defendants' expenditures during the relevant time period to adopt that approach here. Other courts have simply awarded families of terrorism victims $150 million in punitive damages. See, e.g., Gates v. Syrian Arab Republic, 580 F.Supp.2d 53, 75 (D.D.C.2008), aff'd, 646 F.3d 1 (D.C.Cir.2011). Using that approach here would result in a colossal figure, given the number of families involved.
This case, when combined with the related cases involving the same bombings where plaintiffs seek punitive damages, involves over 600 plaintiffs. Valore was a similar case, involving another terrorist bombing sponsored by Iran: the bombing of the United States Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. Two hundred and forty-one military servicemen were murdered in that bombing. A similar number of people, 224, died here, and hundreds more were injured. In Valore, then-Chief Judge Lamberth used the expenditures-times-multiplier method. All told, Judge Lamberth awarded approximately $4 billion in compensatory damages in cases involving the Beirut bombing and about $5 billion in punitive damages. Estate of Brown v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 872 F.Supp.2d 37, 45 n. 1 (D.D.C.2012) (tallying awards). This case is quite similar in magnitude to Valore: all told, including the judgments issued in Owens, Mwila, and Khaliq, and the judgments to be issued in conjunction with this opinion and in Amduso, Onsongo, and Opati, the Court will have issued just over $5 billion in compensatory damages. Given that similarity, the inability of this Court to employ the expenditure-times-multiplier method, and in light of the “societal interests in punishment and deterrence that warrant imposition of punitive sanctions” in cases like this, the Court finds it appropriate to award punitive damages in an amount equal to the total compensatory damages awarded in this case. Beer v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 789 F.Supp.2d 14, 17 (D.D.C.2011) (citing Flatow v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 999 F.Supp. 1 (D.D.C.1998)). Doing so will result in a punitive damage award consistent with the punitive damage awards in analogous cases, particularly those involvingthe Beirut bombing, and will hopefully deter defendants from continuing to sponsor terrorist activities. The Court will apportion punitive damages among plaintiffs according to their compensatory damages. See Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 90.
Plaintiffs in Owens, Mwila, and Khaliq, cases (involving the same bombings) in which this Court previously awarded damages, did not seek punitive damages. See, e.g., Khaliq v. Republic of Sudan, No. 10–356, 33 F.Supp.3d 29, 33–35, 2014 WL 1284973, at *3 (D.D.C. Mar. 28, 2014).
c. Prejudgment Interest
An award of prejudgment interest at the prime rate is appropriate in this case. See Oldham v. Korean Air Lines Co., 127 F.3d 43, 54 (D.C.Cir.1997); Forman v. Korean Air Lines Co., 84 F.3d 446, 450–51 (D.C.Cir.1996). Prejudgment interest is appropriate on the whole award, including pain and suffering and solatium—although not including the punitive damage award, as that is calculated here by reference to the entire compensatory award—with one exception. See Reed v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 845 F.Supp.2d 204, 214–15 (D.D.C.2012) (awarding prejudgment interest on the full award). But see Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 768 F.Supp.2d 16, 30 n. 12 (D.D.C.2011) (declining to award prejudgment interest on solatium damages). Because some of the economic loss figures recommended by the special masters have already been adjusted to reflect present discounted value, see District of Columbia v. Barrite a u, 399 A.2d 563, 568–69 (D.C.1979), the Court will not apply the prejudgment interest multiplier to the economic loss amounts except those calculated in 1998 dollars. See Doe, 943 F.Supp.2d at 186 (citing Oldham, 127 F.3d at 54); Report of Special Master Kenneth Adams Concerning Maurice Okatch Ogolla, Ex. 5 [ECF No. 70] at 45–47 (explaining how to properly apply interest here without double-counting). Awards for pain and suffering and solatium are calculated without reference to the time elapsed since the attacks. Because plaintiffs were unable to bring their claims immediately after the attacks, they lost use of the money to which they were entitled upon incurring their injuries. Denying prejudgment interest on these damages would allow defendants to profit from the use of the money over the last fifteen years. Awarding prejudgment interest, on the other hand, reimburses plaintiffs for the time value of money, treating the awards as if they were awarded promptly and invested by plaintiffs.
The Court will calculate the applicable interest using the prime rate for each year. The D.C. Circuit has explained that the prime rate—the rate banks charge for short-term unsecured loans to creditworthy customers—is the most appropriate measure of prejudgment interest, one “more appropriate” than more conservative measures such as the Treasury Bill rate, which represents the return on a risk-free loan. See Forman, 84 F.3d at 450. Although the prime rate, applied over a period of several years, can be measured in different ways, the D.C. Circuit has approved an award of prejudgment interest “at the prime rate for each year between the accident and the entry of judgment.” See id. Using the prime rate for each year is more precise than, for example, using the average rate over the entire period. See Doe, 943 F.Supp.2d at 185 (noting that this method is a “substantially more accurate ‘market-based estimate’ ” of the time value of money (citing Forman, 84 F.3d at 451)). Moreover, calculating interest based on the prime rate for each year is a simple matter. Using the prime rate for each year results in a multiplier of 2.26185 for damages incurred in 1998. Accordingly, the Court will use this multiplier to calculate the total award.
To calculate the multiplier, the Court multiplied $1.00 by the prime rate in 1999 (8%) and added that amount to $1.00, yielding $1.08. Then, the Court took that amount and multiplied it by the prime rate in 2000 (9.23%) and added that amount to $1.08, yielding $1.17968. Continuing this iterative process through 2014 yields a multiplier of 2.26185.
The Court calculated the multiplier using the Federal Reserve's data for the average annual prime rate in each year between 1998 and 2014. See Bd. of Governors of the Fed. Reserve Sys. Historical Data, available at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/data.htm (last visited July 25, 2014). As of the date of this opinion, the Federal Reserve has not posted the annual prime rate for 2014, so the Court will conservatively estimate that rate to be 3.25%, the rate for the previous six years.
The product of the multiplier and the base damages amount includes both the prejudgment interest and the base damages amount; in other words, applying the multiplier calculates not the prejudgment interest but the base damages amount plus the prejudgment interest, or the total compensatory damages award.
CONCLUSION
The 1998 embassy bombings shattered the lives of all plaintiffs in this case. Reviewing their personal stories reveals that, even more than fifteen years later, they each still feel the horrific effects of that awful day. Damages awards cannot fully compensate people whose lives have been torn apart; instead, they offer only a helping hand. But that is the very least that these plaintiffs are owed. Hence, it is what this Court will facilitate.
A separate Order consistent with these findings has issued on this date.