ROYCE C. LAMBERTH, Chief Judge.
Plaintiff Amir Reza Oveissi brought this suit over seven years ago, seeking to hold defendants Islamic Republic of Iran ("Iran") and the Iranian Ministry of Information Security ("MOIS") liable for the assassination of his grandfather, Gholam Oveissi. Gholam Oveissi was a general and high-ranking official in Iran prior to the 1979 revolution, which saw the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini and the transformation of Iran into an Islamic state. Shortly before the revolution, General Oveissi and his family fled to the United States, where Amir Reza was born. After a brief stay in the U.S., the family settled in Paris, France, where they resided for nearly five years. Their stay in Paris was cut short, however, after Gholam Oveissi was gunned down in a busy street in February 1984. Islamic Jihad—a relatively-unknown group at the time—immediately claimed responsibility for the assassination. Following his brutal murder, the remaining members of Gholam Oveissi's family, including five year-old Amir Reza, were whisked away to Africa, and eventually made their way back to the United States, where plaintiff has since resided. Since his grandfather's death, plaintiff—and the world—has learned that Islamic Jihad was actually a cell composed of members of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, and that the group acted "under the direction of MOIS, and were materially supported by Iran." Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 768 F.Supp.2d 1, 14-15, No. 03 Civ. 1197, 2010 WL 4553539, at *12, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120168, at *35 (D.D.C. Nov. 12, 2010) ("Oveissi III") (quotations omitted).
Plaintiff Amir Reza Oveissi brings this action under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act ("FSIA"), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1330, 1602 et seq., seeking to hold both Iran and MOIS liable for their complicity in the murder of his grandfather. That Act contains a provision known as the "state-sponsored terrorism" exception, which, at the
As a result of the original dismissal of plaintiff's cause of action, Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 498 F.Supp.2d 268 (D.D.C.2007) ("Oveissi I"), the Court had not received any evidence concerning the appropriate measure of damages at the time that it rendered its opinion on liability in Oveissi III. Plaintiff, recognizing this gap in the record, requested leave to brief the Court concerning damages, Memorandum of Law on the Applicability of Relevant French Law 7-8, June 8, 2010[45], which the Court granted. Oveissi III, 768 F.Supp.2d at 15-16, 2010 WL 4553539 at
The evidence submitted by plaintiff tends to fall into one of three categories: evidence related to the nature of his relationship with, and reaction to the death of, his grandfather Gholam Oveissi; evidence concerning the extent of General Oveissi's former properties and businesses in Iran; and evidence concerning how Amir Reza would have benefited from his grandfather's holdings had he not been assassinated. The Court discusses each of these subjects in turn.
In Oveissi I, plaintiff submitted substantial evidence concerning his relationship with his grandfather, the deceased Gholam Oveissi. Plaintiff now supplements that information by submitting sworn declarations from both himself and his brother, Amir Ali Oveissi. These combined proofs establish the following facts:
General Gholam Oveissi was a prominent figure in pre-revolution Iran. He was "a four-star general in Iran's armed forces," Oveissi I, 498 F.Supp.2d at 274-75, and was closely linked with the ruling Shah of Iran prior to the Shah's overthrow in 1979. Id. Contemporary accounts of General Oveissi describe him as "one of the most powerful Iranian generals," and state that he was "the commander of the imperial Iranian army." Dec. 10, 2010 Declaration of Amir Reza Oveissi
Following his flight from Iran and the birth of his grandchildren—including plaintiff—Gholam Oveissi became very close to his family. Indeed, plaintiff Amir Reza Oveissi remembers his grandfather being present for virtually all of his life prior to the assassination. Id. at ¶ 5. The family moved to the United States following the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, and shortly thereafter they all moved to Paris. Oveissi I, 498 F.Supp.2d at 274. During this period, the entire family—including Gholam Oveissi—was always together, id., and plaintiff submits several family photos of the whole family together at various times and in various places, all of which include both him and his grandfather. Amir Reza 1st Decl. Exs. C-I. Once the entire family arrived in Paris, they lived in the same apartment together. Oveissi I, 498 F.Supp.2d at 274. They were a "very close and loving family." Amir Reza 1st Decl. ¶ 6.
In addition to the physical proximity between plaintiff and his grandfather, the two also shared a special bond. They would see each other almost every day, and his grandfather always came with his father to pick him up from daycare. Id. at ¶ 14. He and his grandfather would take special trips together, just the two of them, going to the park for a picnic or to one of Paris' great museums. Id. Amir Reza's grandfather also acted as his Farsi instructor. Id. This relationship between grandson and grandfather was a special one, as Gholam Oveissi filled the role of father-figure and mentor who "was always very patient" with the young Amir Reza Oveissi. Id. at ¶ 15. Indeed, plaintiff's brother explains that his grandfather was "particularly fond" of Amir Reza. Dec. 10, 2010 Declaration of Amir Ali Oveissi
Following Gholam Oveissi's brutal murder, plaintiff's shock at the loss of such a close and important figure in his life was amplified by the fact that—from his perspective—Gholam Oveissi's death was entirely unexpected. Though Gholam himself remained active in the movement to retake Iran and re-install the Shah as the secular leader of that country, Oveissi I, 498 F.Supp.2d at 274, plaintiff—at the time a young child less than six years old—was unaware that his grandfather was in any danger at all. Amir Reza 1st Decl. ¶ 18. In plaintiff's mind, Paris was a safe place where he was surrounded by family; indeed, the very street on which Gholam Oveissi was gunned down—Rue de Passy—was a place where Amir Reza "would often go for walks with [his] grandfather," and where his grandfather "would buy [him] and [his] brother ice cream." Id. at ¶ 19. As a result, plaintiff testified that the murder of Gholam Oveissi "was a complete shock" which jarred him from his normal life. Id. at ¶ 18. This unpreparedness for the loss of his grandfather was not without consequences; plaintiff's brother explains that plaintiff would occasionally suffer "outbursts of anger" at the fact that the assassination was so "unexpected and violent." Amir Ali Decl. ¶ 6.
Only adding to the trauma was the lingering threat that the same terrorist group that killed General Oveissi would come after additional members of plaintiff's family. See Amir Ali Decl. ¶ 7 ("Because our grandfather was a target of Iranian extremists, our parents feared another assassination attempt on our immediate family."). Indeed, in addition to Gholam Oveissi, plaintiff's great-uncle— Gholam's brother—was also murdered in the same attack. Amir Reza 1st Decl. ¶ 20. And had plaintiff's mother not called his father to ask him to come home and help sell their car, plaintiff's father might also have been killed, as he had been with Gholam and plaintiff's great-uncle just prior to the murder. Id. Living in this constant state of terror and fear was a heavy burden for the young Amir Reza, who felt like he was "in hiding" and was constantly reminded that the same dangerous forces that killed his grandfather remained at large and possibly interested in targeting other members of his family. Furthermore, Amir Ali Oveissi, plaintiff's brother, explains that after the assassination "[b]odyguards carrying guns [became] a common sight in our home," and that this period "was a very difficult time for Amir [Reza]." Amir Ali Decl. ¶ 7. In short, the murder of Gholam Oveissi turned plaintiff's "peaceful and loving home into a place of chaos and turmoil." Amir Reza 1st Dec. ¶ 35.
All of these facts concerning the nature of the attack in this case had a substantial impact on the loss that plaintiff felt at the murder of his grandfather, and have hindered his ability to recover from that loss. Plaintiff's brother explains that plaintiff became withdrawn following Gholam's death, and the family never again saw the playful and cheery child that Amir Reza once was. Amir Ali Decl. ¶ 4. This withdrawn nature eventually gave way to a troubled child who suffered from outbursts of anger and fits of denial in which plaintiff would act as if his grandfather was still alive. Id. at ¶¶ 5-6. As Amir Reza began to accept what had happened, he fell into a long period of depression, and throughout his adolescence he battled alcoholism as he attempted to cope with the tragic event. Amir Reza 1st Decl. ¶ 22. Now an adult, plaintiff feels compelled to frequently remind himself of the assassination, keeping mementos close by and repeatedly reviewing film footage discussing his grandfather's murder. Id. at ¶¶ 23-25. The loss of Gholam Oveissi has even affected plaintiff's career choices, as he chose to study comparative politics and focus on the Middle East and Iran throughout his education—even though doing so provided constant reminders of the tragedy. Id. at ¶ 38. In sum, the murder of plaintiff's grandfather "has defined who he is today." Oveissi I, 498 F.Supp.2d at 274-75.
In addition to the substantial emotional pains that plagued him, plaintiff also seeks
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Description of Property Estimated Value
(USD) 6
-------------------------------------------------------
800,000 square meters of land in the
city of Gonbad $ 88,000,000
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100,000 square meters of land in the
city of Nowshahr $ 15,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------
5,000 square meters of land in the
city of Tehran $ 1,500,000
-------------------------------------------------------
Twelve-bedroom home in the city of
Tehran $ 5,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------
300,000 square meters of land in the
city of Gorgan $ 36,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------
1,000,000 square meters of land in
the city of Babol $175,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------
1,500,000 square meters of land in
the city of Ghom $225,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------
Rezabad farm near the city of
Kashoun $ 1,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------
Saidabad farm near the city of
Kashoun $ 1,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------
Id. at ¶¶ 4-5. In total, plaintiff's father estimates the value of these combined properties, all of which were "located in prime areas of populated cities," id. at ¶ 7, to be $547,500,000.
In addition to the sale-value of the assets, some of the properties that Gholam Oveissi owned produced annual income. In particular, plaintiff's father explains that two farms owned by Gholam Oveissi "produced fruit, including apples, melons, pears, walnuts, cherries, prunes, and watermelons." Id. at ¶ 8. This yearly haul of produce was sold annually at various markets throughout Iran. Based on the revenue from the final years before he lost the ability to oversee the production and sale of the produce, Mohammad Oveissi estimates that the "yearly earnings from the sale of produce from the farmland" was "between $4 million and $5 million." Id. In addition to the farms, Gholam Oveissi also operated an irrigation enterprise based on water rights he owned in the Atrek River. Id. at ¶ 6. In the years
Finally, in response to this Court's Order, plaintiff submits evidence as to how he would have benefitted from his grandfather's assets in Iran, and whether the murder of Gholam Oveissi was the cause of the alleged losses in this case. Initially, plaintiff sets forth two methods of distribution from which he might have benefitted from his grandfather's holdings. First, Amir Reza's father explains that he was one of five children of Gholam Oveissi, and thus under a per stirpes distribution, plaintiff would have been in line to inherent one-half of his father's interest in General Oveissi's assets, which was one-fifth of the entire estate. Supp. Br. at 4; Feb. 3, 2011 Declaration of Mohammad Reza Oveissi
As to the relationship between the assassination and the loss of property in Iran, the evidence shows that General Oveissi was a powerful an influential leader in pre-revolution Iran. As a former four-star general in Iran's armed forces and one-time commander of the country's army, see supra Section II.A, plaintiff asserts that his grandfather "was perhaps the most influential [Iranian] expatriate in the world." Supp. Br. at 7. In support of this position, plaintiff submits a 2008 report from the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, an independent organization whose goal is to "establish a comprehensive and objective historical record of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 1979 revolution." Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, No Safe Haven: Iran's Global Assassination Campaign (2008), available at http://www.iranhrdc. org/httpdocs/English/pdfs/Reports/No-Safe-Haven_May08.pdf ("IHRDC Report"). The IHRDC Report provides details of General Oveissi's exile from Iran and his assassination in 1984. It explains that plaintiff's grandfather had attracted a number of former officers committed to returning and overthrowing the new Iranian government, id. at 23-24, that he received "substantial financial backing" from the Shah's family, id., and that, at least according to his own estimates, he
"In determining the appropriate amount of compensatory damages, the Court may look to prior [FSIA] decisions" for guidance. Heiser v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 466 F.Supp.2d 229, 269 (D.D.C. 2006).
In French tort law, the "fundamental principle that dominates the evaluation of damages is the principle of `full compensation' (la réparation intégrale)." George A. Bermann & Etienne Picard, Introduction to French Law 260 (2008); see also John Bell et al., Principles of French Law 414 (2d ed. 2008) (Under French law, "there must be `full reparation' (réparation intégrale)."). In contrast to the United States tort system, which incorporates and attempts to balance often-competing goals of compensation, deterrence, and punishment, the foundational tenet of réparation intégrale reflects France's policy determination that its civil tort system should be limited solely to a restorative function. As one French opinion explains: "The proper function of civil liability is to re-establish as exactly as possible the balance of things destroyed by the harm and to replace the victim, at the expense of the person held liable, in the situation in which he would have been if the harm had not occurred." Civ. (2), 8 Apr. 1970: Bull Civ. II n. 111; see also Belieu v. Murray, 231 F.Supp. 579, 583 (E.D.S.C.1964) ("The essence of civil liability [in France] is to require re-establishment, as exactly as possible, of the equilibrium destroyed by the wrongdoer and to replace the injured party ... in the same situation as if the tortuous act had not occurred.") (internal quotations omitted).
Here, the harms plaintiff has constitute a form of damage under French law known as dommage par ricochet, "which governs instances `where A claims respect of harm caused by B's injury or damage itself caused by the defendant's (C's) act.'" Oveissi III, 768 F.Supp.2d at 13, 2010 WL 4553539 at *11, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120168 at *31 (quoting Bell et al., supra at 412). Compensation for such injuries extends to both economic and non-economic losses. Bermann & Picard, supra at 257. Non-economic damages—known as dommage moral—compensate plaintiffs for "the sadness which is caused by the loss of a loved one," and thus are similar in nature to the common law notion of solatium. Robert F. Taylor, Concubinage and Union Libre: A Historical Comparison of the Rights of Unwed Cohabitants in Wrongful
Based on these principles, as well as the Court's previous recognition that the scope of the French concept of préjudice, or harm, is "`extremely broad,'" Oveissi III, 768 F.Supp.2d at 13-14, 2010 WL 4553539 at *11, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120168 at *30 (quoting Bell et al., supra at 364), the Court may safely presume that none of the general practices and procedures that the courts of this district have developed with respect to damage awards under the FSIA will violate any tenet of the French law of damages. The Court will thus rely on previously-articulated principles concerning damage awards in FSIA litigation, with reference to French law where such information is available and may aid the Court in reaching an appropriate determination of damages.
"Solatium is awarded to compensate... `the mental anguish, bereavement and grief that those with a close personal relationship to a decedent experience ... as well as the harm caused by the loss of the decedent['s] society and comfort.'" Murphy v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 740 F.Supp.2d 51, 78 (D.D.C.2010) (quoting Belkin v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 667 F.Supp.2d 8, 22 (D.D.C.2009)). In his brief, plaintiff seeks an award of $10 million in solatium. Damage Estimate at 5-15. For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds that an award of $7.5 million is appropriate in this case.
Solatium, as an award for "injury to feelings," Flatow, 999 F.Supp. at 30 (citing Black's Law Dictionary, 1391 (6th ed.1991)), is difficult to articulate in mathematical or numerical terms. A court's job in a solatium case is to account for various facts and circumstances, and to use those factors to arrive at an appropriate numerical expression of total pain and grief— encapsulated in the solatium award. Here, the Court here is aided by those decisions in this district on the issue of compensatory awards for family members of persons injured or killed in FSIA cases. In particular, the Court will look to other FSIA opinions concerning solatium damages, as well as awards for the pain and suffering of family members of victims of terrorist attacks who allege claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, as such claims are largely indistinct from claims for solatium. See Murphy, 740 F.Supp.2d at 78 ("In determining the appropriate award of damages for solatium, the Court may look to prior decisions awarding [pain and suffering] for intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as the decisions regarding solatium."); Heiser, 466 F.Supp.2d at 269 (same); Blais v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 459 F.Supp.2d 40, 58 (D.D.C.2006) (same).
This Court is well-versed in the history of FSIA litigation, and a review of relevant law finds that there are several general principles concerning damages in such cases: First, "[f]amilies of victims who have died are typically awarded greater damages than families of victims who remain alive." Rimkus v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 575 F.Supp.2d 181, 198 (D.D.C. 2008) (citing Heiser, 466 F.Supp.2d at 269). Second, a critical component in determining the appropriate award is the "nature of the relationship" between the claimant and
Relying on these principles, this Court has developed a general framework for the calculation of proper damage awards in FSIA cases. See generally Heiser, 466 F.Supp.2d at 269-70. The Heiser Court began by reviewing a substantial number of FSIA damage awards and determining, based on average awards, that "[s]pouses typically receive greater damage awards than parents [or children], who, in turn, typically receive greater awards than siblings." Id. at 269 (collecting cases). Finding that these transitive relationships were an efficient way—at least in the first instance—to measure the "nature of the relationship" between the claimant and victim, the Court then calculated the average damage awards for each of these general groups. Those calculations indicated that, as a general matter, spouses of deceased victims were awarded approximately $8 million, while parents and children received $5 million and siblings received $2.5 million. Id. These averages have since been explicitly adopted as a framework that provides starting points for solatium or pain and suffering damages for family members of deceased or injured victims in FSIA actions. See Valore v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 700 F.Supp.2d 52, 85 (D.D.C.2010) (noting that this Court has "adopted the framework set forth in Heiser as `an appropriate measure of damages for the family members of victims'") (quoting Peterson v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 515 F.Supp.2d 25, 51 (D.D.C.2007)).
This procedure constitutes useful guidance for FSIA courts; however, "[t]hese numbers ... are not set in stone." Murphy, 740 F.Supp.2d at 79. While the Heiser framework provides a starting point for a court, it is simply that—a starting point. In particular, the Heiser figure accounts for the nature of the familial relationship between claimant and victim—a factor which may or may not capture all information relevant to the Court's damages analysis. Where that factor cannot tell the whole story, however, a court must consider other factors that may alter the determination of the appropriate award. In other words, the Heiser valuations act as a center of gravity for solatium awards, around which a court may vary the final amount based on the facts and circumstances of a particular case.
Decisions to deviate from the starting points provided by the Heiser framework are committed to the discretion of the particular court in each case, and it is that court's duty to analyze the nature of the claimant's injury and the deviation—if any—that is appropriate to compensate for such losses, while also bearing in mind the general precept that similar awards should be given in similar cases. Factors pertinent to the determination of damage enhancements are largely derived from common sense, and generally fall into one of three categories: evidence establishing an especially close relationship between the plaintiff and decedent, particularly in comparison
Finally, any departures from the Heiser framework, are generally small relative to the award specified by the developed framework, absent "circumstances that appreciably worsen" a claimant's "pain and suffering, such as cases involving torture or kidnapping." Greenbaum v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 451 F.Supp.2d 90, 108 (D.D.C.2006); see also Haim, 425 F.Supp.2d at 75 ("[F]amilies of hostage or captivity victims are ... typically awarded greater damages than are the families of victims of a single attack."). In such cases, greater awards are justified because the afflicted party not only had to cope with the grief that follows the loss of a loved one, but—at the time of the event— was also forced to endure unending anxiety and an extended period of extreme distress over the health and safety of their captive family member. Based on all of the above principles, the Court reaches the following conclusions concerning the appropriate award for solatium here.
In determining appropriate damages here, the Court must grapple with two issues: first, where plaintiff—who lost his grandfather—should be placed on the Heiser framework; and second, whether the circumstances of this case warrant a departure from that initial position. The difficulty with this first issue results largely from the fact that, historically, American victims of terrorism tend to be in their twenties and thirties; indeed, the Court is unaware of prior FSIA litigation discussing either the nature of the grandparent-grandchild relationship or the proper placement of such a relationship on the Heiser scale. However, the Court need not delve into this issue here. As plaintiff correctly points out, this Court has previously determined that the interactions between Amir Reza and his grandfather were sufficiently frequent and of such a nature as to render them equivalent to those interactions typical of a parent-child relationship. See Oveissi III, 768 F.Supp.2d at 13-14, 2010 WL 4553539 at *11, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120168 at *32 (finding that "Gholam Ali Oveissi `acted as a second father' to Amir, and financially supported Amir and his family") (quoting Oveissi I, 498 F.Supp.2d at 274). Based on these prior holdings, as well as plaintiff's extensive testimony concerning the close nature of his relationship with his grandfather, see Amir Reza 1st Decl. at ¶¶ 4-20, the Court finds that the appropriate initial award in this case is $5 million— the same as for a parent-child relationship.
With respect to any circumstances warranting a departure from this initial number, plaintiff urges that several "factors justify a higher award of compensatory damages for the mental anguish, bereavement, and grief suffered by [Amir Reza] Oveissi as a result of Gholam's murder." Damage Estimate at 7. In particular, plaintiff notes that (1) Amir had a particularly close relationship with his grandfather, (2) General Oveissi's death was sudden and completely unexpected, (3) the nature of General Oveissi's position led to
Plaintiff contends that the nature of his relationship with Gholam Oveissi was similar to that of a parent and child, and that this particularly special and close bond— unique for a grandparent and their grandchild—warrants an upward enhancement from the standard $5 million amount set by the Heiser framework. Damages Estimate at 7-8. Plaintiff is correct that this Court has recognized that a particularly close relationship is one factor weighing in favor of enhancement, cf. Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 86 (holding that actual connection between family members, despite familial relationship, can affect ultimate solatium award), and the evidence chronicled above does demonstrate that Amir Reza and his grandfather shared a very special relationship. See supra Section II.A. However, it is natural that a parent is likely to have a stronger bond and closer day-to-day relationship than, for example, a sibling of a victim (or a grandparent, which was Gholam Oveissi's familial role.) Indeed, this is precisely the reason why the starting point for parents of victims is higher than that of siblings on the Heiser scale—to account for the natural differences between the two relationships. To further amplify damages based on the same variations through enhancements to the Heiser values would render the entire purpose of developing such a framework obsolete. Rather, enhancements are warranted where differences can be established between similarly situated individuals; i.e., where a parent can demonstrate a particularly close connection with their child vis-à-vis other parent-child relationships. Here, however, the evidence merely establishes that Gholam Oveissi's relationship with plaintiff was like that of a father-son relationship, in that Gholam was a constant and supportive presence in Amir Reza's life. This is the very reason that the Court determined that the proper starting point for solatium damages in this action is on the parent-child point of the Heiser scale, and any further alteration is therefore unnecessary and excessive.
Plaintiff also points to the sudden and unexpected nature of Gholam Oveissi's death to justify an upward enhancement. Damage Estimate at 9-10. As set forth above, at the time of the murder, plaintiff—a child of less than six years—was entirely unaware that his grandfather was in any danger at all. They would often go for walks and trips through Paris; indeed, the very place where Gholam Oveissi was killed was a street that he and plaintiff often visited together. See supra Section II.A. And though General Oveissi was involved with others in planning a return to Iran—thus rendering him a target of the current regime—plaintiff was ignorant of these facts, and thus his subjective view— and the shock he experienced—should not be mitigated.
Courts have previously recognized that whether the victim's death was "sudden and unexpected" is an issue to consider in the calculation of solatium damages. Stethem v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 201 F.Supp.2d 78, 90 (D.D.C.2002). As the Stethem Court explained, where the death of a loved one is unforeseen, it can render the shock and grief suffered by family members "all the more intense." Id. Here, the evidence has demonstrated that plaintiff suffered from extended denial and
As has been chronicled above, General Oveissi was in a position of power and influence, even after his departure from Iran, and thus was seen as a threat to the current Iranian regime. Id. And his death, unlike many of the terrorist attacks that have come before the courts in FSIA litigation, was not the result of a planned but non-specific terrorist attack designed to inflict maximum casualties generally, but rather was caused by a deliberate and focused assassination in which General Oveissi was the specific target. Id. As a result, immediately following General Oveissi's assassination, his family—including plaintiff—were forced to live under the constant threat of further reprisals, unable to take the significant period of time that is generally necessary to cope with the immense tragedy they had just suffered.
Thus, unlike many family members of terrorist attacks—who suffer incredible losses but, at minimum, are generally able to grieve with their families and friends, often in the comfort and safety of their own homes in the United States—plaintiff here, a child of less than six years, was immediately uprooted from his home, and whisked away to a foreign land. See id. In addition, plaintiff's family—fearing further attacks against them as reprisals for General Oveissi's position and activities— were forced to enter hiding and hire armed guards to stand full-time watch over them. Thus plaintiff was unable to grieve in any natural or comforting manner, but instead was forced to live under the constant threat of death, surrounded by armed bodyguards and hidden away in unknown and foreign locations. See id. Naturally, in such circumstances plaintiff's ability to cope with this enormous tragedy was greatly stunted, and he withdrew from the world, fighting battles alone against bouts of outrage and depression. Id. These dire circumstances amplified the effects of the grief that any family member of a victim of a terrorist plot would naturally suffer, and thus warrants a further departure from the Heiser framework.
Taken together, the circumstances detailed above, along with his grandfather's death, had a significant impact on Amir Reza Oveissi. As a young child, plaintiff changed significantly, turning from a happy and outgoing boy to a withdrawn and solemn figure. Id. He suffered from fits of anger, and to this day has never been able to discuss his grandfather's death openly with his family. Id. As he grew older, Amir Reza grew more and more depressed, and turned to alcohol in a misguided attempt to cope with the pain of his loss and the subsequent trauma from which he suffered. Id. And as an adult, plaintiff continues to suffer sadness and anger, and these events have steered him to pursue particular studies and fields of practice linked to both his grandfather and Iran. Id. Though these subjects tend only to amplify the pain he still feels, plaintiff explained that he is "compelled" to constantly remember Gholam's assassination, as that event, in his own words, "defined who he is today." Amir Reza 1st Decl. at ¶ 25. This lifetime of suffering constitutes
In determining the final award for solatium in this case, the several factors highlighted by plaintiff suggest that an enhanced damage award is appropriate. The Court, however, must also remain mindful of the general equitable principle that claims for pain and suffering "should be compared to awards in similar cases." Brewer v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 664 F.Supp.2d 43, 55 (D.D.C.2009). Plaintiff, in his briefing to the Court, takes the position that the circumstances involved in this case justify a solatium award of $10 million. Damage Estimate at 5-15. As chronicled above, plaintiff is correct in his assertion that several factors point to an award exceeding the amount indicated by the Heiser framework—$5 million. At the same time, a review of awards in other FSIA cases indicates that not only is such a request—which is equivalent to a 100% enhancement—out of line with other FSIA awards, but it is entirely unprecedented.
A comparison with other terrorist victim's suggests that the Court must temper its total enhancement in this case. In Valore, for example, this Court considered the claims of two family members of individuals injured or killed in the 1996 bombing of a U.S. military residence at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. There, the evidence demonstrated that one of the family members suffered "several nervous breakdowns, at least one of which required hospitalization," while another victim suffered the horrific fate of losing not one but two family members—a husband and a brother. Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 86. Yet despite the terrible losses suffered—and the lingering mental disabilities caused by those losses—this Court found that a 25% upward departure was the maximum allowable in each particular case. Id. Similarly, this Court has found that 40% departures were warranted in (1) a case where one family member testified that her life was irrevocably changed by the attack, Haim, 425 F.Supp.2d at 75, and (2) a case where the family member was forced to quit her job and become the full-time caretaker of her now-quadriplegic child. Blais, 459 F.Supp.2d at 60. In light of these awards, but also cognizant of the several factors that indicate that a damage award larger than the one established by the Heiser scale is appropriate, the Court finds that the circumstances here warrant a 50% enhancement. Thus, the Court awards plaintiff $7.5 million in solatium damages for the loss of his grandfather, which resulted from the heinous murder that defendants planned and ordered.
In addition to damages for solatium, plaintiff seeks to recover for alleged economic losses that he suffered as a result of his grandfather's murder. Damage Estimate at 2-4. Awards for economic loss are permitted under the FSIA, Flatow, 999 F.Supp. at 28, and are a traditional remedy for wrongful death actions. See id. at 27 ("[A] wrongful death statute is
FSIA actions, which incorporate concepts of wrongful death and survival, limit recovery to "economic losses which result from decedent's premature death." Acosta v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 574 F.Supp.2d 15, 27 (D.D.C.2008); see also Valore, 700 F.Supp.2d at 83 ("[E]states of those who did not survive can recover economic losses stemming from wrongful death of the decedent.") (emphasis added). To demonstrate that particular losses "result" from a person's premature death, a plaintiff must establish causation as both a factual and legal matter. The factual inquiry examines whether the alleged losses would have occurred irrespective of the tortious acts in question. See Humane Soc'y v. Johanns, No. 06 Civ. 265, 2007 WL 1120404 at *10, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27674 at *33 (D.D.C. Apr. 13, 2007) ("Under this Circuit's precedent, the harms to each party are tested for[, inter alia], likelihood of occurrence.") (quotations omitted). The test requires a plaintiff to establish that, had the incidents in question not occurred, the losses would not also have occurred. The legal inquiry requires a plaintiff to show that that the actions in question were the legal cause of the alleged harms. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 281 ("The actor is liable for an invasion of an interest of another, if, [inter alia,] the actor's conduct is a legal cause of the invasion.") (emphasis added). Under D.C. Circuit precedent and the FSIA, this requirement manifests in the principle of proximate cause. "Proximate cause exists so long as there is some reasonable connection between the act or omission of the defendant and the damages which the plaintiff has suffered." Brewer, 664 F.Supp.2d at 54. (quotations omitted). Thus, plaintiff here must demonstrate that defendants' murder of General Oveissi caused—both as a matter of fact and a matter of law—the losses he suffered to his inheritance.
As chronicled above, plaintiff has submitted substantial evidence in support of his theory that General Oveissi (and thus derivatively, plaintiff), might have been able to reassert his property rights over his former assets located in Iran. See supra Section II.C. The Court need not speculate, however, as to the likelihood that—had he not been assassinated—General Oveissi could have rallied sufficient support to overthrow the revolutionary
The evidence confirms that the 1979 revolution and General Oveissi's flight from Iran were the legal causes of the losses. For example, plaintiff's father, who provides extensive testimony concerning the properties and businesses in Iran drawn from his experiences overseeing those assets, declares that he "managed the real estate holdings owned by ... Gholam Oveissi in Iran through the date that my father and our family fled Iran." Mohammad 1st Decl. ¶ 2 (emphasis added). Mohammad Oveissi also provides estimations for the values of his father's former assets in 1979 currency, id. at ¶¶ 4-8; presumably because he no longer had the ability to value these assets as of General Oveissi's death in 1984.
Plaintiff's attempt to depict this suit as a survival action in which he can assert a claim for property on behalf of his grand-father
Nor does resort to French law alter this result. The law of France, like U.S. law, recognizes that a defendant's actions must be the cause of the harms suffered by a plaintiff. See Bell et al., supra at 412 (stating that French law awards only "purely financial losses caused by another's personal injury") (emphasis added). And as discussed above, the fundamental French law concept of réparation intégrale is a principle of restitution, the goal of which is to restore the plaintiff to the status quo prior to the defendants' improper actions. See supra Section III. Here, restoring the status quo would require a return to General Oveissi's exile in America and Paris—a time when he was plotting a counter-revolution, but also a time when he no longer had control over the property in Iran. Whether General Oveissi might have subsequently reclaimed his rights sometime after 1984 had he not been killed is pure speculation, and thus cannot provide a substantive legal basis upon which to award extensive damages for the property that he undisputedly lost control over in 1979.
For over seven years now, plaintiff has worked admirably and—given that the
A separate Order and Judgment consistent with these findings shall issue this date.
This Court originally determined that the United States' "unique interest in having its domestic law apply when its citizens are injured by state-sponsored terrorist acts"—an interest that "elevates the interests of the United States to nearly their highest point"—required application of U.S. law to plaintiff's claims against Iran. Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 498 F.Supp.2d 268, 281 (D.D.C. 2007) (quotations omitted). In particular, the Court held that California law should be applied, as that was the state where plaintiff was born. Id. The Court then found that plaintiff could not state a claim for relief for wrongful death under California law because the California probate code did not permit him to recover in such an action, and dismissed the suit Id. at 282.
Plaintiff appealed the dismissal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that the relevant choice-of-law factors "overwhelmingly point in the direction of France" because (1) the deceased Gholam Oveissi was an Iranian decedent and French domiciliary and (2) Iran's goal in perpetrating the assassination was to deter French intervention in Iranian affairs. Oveissi II, 573 F.3d at 842-43. The Court of Appeals thus remanded the case with instructions to apply French law in evaluating plaintiff's claims. Id. at 844.
