Families of 9/11 victims have tried to hold Saudi Arabia liable for the attacks in a New York federal court since 2003.
They return to court today at 11 a.m., for a hearing that may get more attention than usual. I'm covering it.
Background from March: courthousenews.com/victims-can-pr…
They return to court today at 11 a.m., for a hearing that may get more attention than usual. I'm covering it.
Background from March: courthousenews.com/victims-can-pr…
Here's the subject of the hearing: The plaintiffs haven't been able to depose Wa'el Hamza Jelaidan, a Saudi millionaire and former bin Laden associate.
Jelaidan's attorney Martin McMahon says he hasn't been able to reach his client.
Jelaidan's attorney Martin McMahon says he hasn't been able to reach his client.
The plaintiffs' attorney accuses McMahon of obfuscating and have sought sanctions.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn rejected sanctions on Aug. 30.
Ruling here: documentcloud.org/documents/5001…
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn rejected sanctions on Aug. 30.
Ruling here: documentcloud.org/documents/5001…
Second half of the hearing devoted to discovery issues. More to come.
The lengthy hearing just finished, dominated by discovery issues.
After 15 years, the plaintiffs have gotten to the point where the govt appeared in court over the FBI declassifying info.
"The 9/11 families have waited for years for this moment," their atty Steven Pounian said.
After 15 years, the plaintiffs have gotten to the point where the govt appeared in court over the FBI declassifying info.
"The 9/11 families have waited for years for this moment," their atty Steven Pounian said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Normand appeared in court to describe the declassification process. There are three tranches of documents on the way, which include witness interviews known as 302s.
The Saudi govt's attorney Michael Kellogg handwaved these as "hearsay."
The Saudi govt's attorney Michael Kellogg handwaved these as "hearsay."
Pounian believes the interviews will turn a corner in their litigation, particularly involving the L.A.-based Saudi consular official Fahad al-Thumairy and people in his orbit.
"Those documents are going to go, we expect, to the heart of that," Pounian said.
"Those documents are going to go, we expect, to the heart of that," Pounian said.
Pounian complained about receiving what he described as an unsorted, unindexed and incomplete document dump in Arabic. (Kellogg, KSA's atty, disputes this charactization.)
Four firms have sorted through them, and Pounian successfully pushed for 30 more days in discovery.
Four firms have sorted through them, and Pounian successfully pushed for 30 more days in discovery.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn is wary of extending the deadline further.
"I think the families would like to have closure," she noted.
Plaintiffs have to submit a letter for discovery issues by Oct. 26. Defendants reply Nov. 7. Discovery closing early 2019.
"I think the families would like to have closure," she noted.
Plaintiffs have to submit a letter for discovery issues by Oct. 26. Defendants reply Nov. 7. Discovery closing early 2019.
Much more there. Long hearing, but now I'm on deadline.
Story and more analysis TK.
Story and more analysis TK.
“We have been engaged this summer in an investigation, a private investigation, ourselves, very intense,” an attorney for 9/11 families on probing Saudi connections.
My coverage of today's hearing on @CourthouseNews.
courthousenews.com/fbi-declassifi…
My coverage of today's hearing on @CourthouseNews.
courthousenews.com/fbi-declassifi…
