U.S. troops may sue military contractors for their injuries, Supreme Court rules
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that U.S. troops can sue military contractors for injuries caused by negligence, rejecting immunity protections under federal law or the Constitution.
- The ruling stemmed from the case of soldier Winston Henceley, who was severely injured by a suicide bomb detonated by a Taliban operative employed by Fluor Corporation at Bagram Airfield.
- The Court found that military contractors are not shielded from lawsuits even in combat zones, overturning lower court decisions that had dismissed Henceley’s suit.
- Justice Clarence Thomas authored the majority opinion, joined by six justices, emphasizing that immunity rules should not extend to contractors, while dissenters argued such suits interfere with federal war powers.
- The decision allows Henceley’s lawsuit against Fluor, which was found negligent in hiring and supervising the Taliban-affiliated employee responsible for the attack.
