Federal judge drops Saudis as defendants from 9/11 suit
A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed the government of Saudi Arabia as a defendant in a long running lawsuit alleging it was responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed the government of Saudi Arabia as a defendant in a long running lawsuit alleging it was responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Federal District Judge George Daniels said on Tuesday that the plaintiffs failed to show the desert kingdom participated in the plot. It was the second time in the 12-year litigation battle that Saudi Arabia has been been dropped as a defendant. It was first dismissed in 2005, but later restored as a defendant by an appeals panel.
Despite the latest ruling, the legal clash is likely to continue. Sean Carter, a partner at the Center City firm of Cozen O'Connor, which has taken the lead in the suit against the Saudis, said Daniels' decision would be appealed.
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