RUDOLPH CONTRERAS, District Judge.
On August 2, 2006, one of the thousands of rockets and missiles launched by Hezbollah that summer struck Kibbutz Saar in northern Israel, fatally injuring kibbutz resident David Lelchook. Compl. ¶¶ 14-15, ECF No. 1. Plaintiffs Ester Lelchook,
In a prior ruling, this Court granted in part Plaintiffs' motion for default judgment regarding liability. See generally Lelchook II, 2019 WL 2191177. Accepting the thoughtful and thorough report and recommendation by Magistrate Judge Meriweather, see Lelchook v. Syrian Arab Republic ("Lelchook I"), No. 16-1550 (RC/RMM), 2019 WL 2191323 (D.D.C. Jan. 31, 2019), the Court concluded that it had subject matter jurisdiction over the suit, that Plaintiffs each had a private right of action under the FSIA, and that Plaintiffs presented viable theories of liability regarding (1) Ester Lechook's wrongful death claim on behalf of the Estate of David Lelchook and (2) Michal, Yael, Alexander, and the Estate of Doris Lelchook's IIED claim. Lelchook II, 2019 WL 2191177, at *2-3. The question now facing the Court is the measure of damages to award for each of these claims pursuant to the FSIA's federal cause of action. See 28 U.S.C. § 1605A(c). For the reasons set forth below, the Court will enter default judgment for economic damages and compensatory damages and deny punitive damages.
Under the FSIA, a plaintiff may recover "economic damages, solatium, pain and suffering, and punitive damages." § 1605A(c)(4). "To obtain damages, the plaintiff must prove that the consequences of the defendant['s] acts were reasonably certain to occur, and they must prove the amount of damages by a reasonable estimate." Reed v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 845 F.Supp.2d 204, 213 (D.D.C. 2012) (citing Hill v. Republic of Iraq, 328 F.3d 680, 681 (D.C. Cir. 2003); see also Valore v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 700 F.Supp.2d 52, 83 (D.D.C. 2010). The consequences of a defendant's acts are "reasonably certain . . . to occur" when they are "more likely than not." Braun v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 228 F.Supp.3d 64, 82 (D.D.C. 2017) (quoting Roth v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 78 F.Supp.3d 379, 402 (D.D.C. 2015)); see also Wultz v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 864 F.Supp.2d 24, 37 (D.D.C. 2012). To prove the amount of a damages by "a reasonable estimate consistent with this [Circuit]'s application of the American rule on damages," Salazar v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 370 F.Supp.2d 105, 115-16 (D.D.C. 2005) (internal quotations omitted) (quoting Hill, 328 F.3d at 681), a court may consider expert testimony as well as comparable awards in similar cases, see Braun, 228 F. Supp. 3d at 82; Reed, 845 F. Supp. 2d at 214; Acosta v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 574 F.Supp.2d 15, 29 (D.D.C. 2008).
The Lelchooks seek damages against Syria pursuant to the FSIA. See Pls.' Mem. Setting Forth Damages Evid. ("Pls.' Mem."), ECF No. 29. More precisely, Ester Lelchook, as the representative of the Estate of David Lelchook, seeks economic damages for the wrongful death of David Lechook, id. at 2, and Michal, Yael, Alexander, and the Estate of Doris Lelchook seek compensatory damages
As established in this Court's prior judgment in this case, see Lelchook II, 2019 WL 2191177, and as discussed in depth in Magistrate Judge Meriweather's Report and Recommendation, see Lelchook I, 2019 WL 2191323, at *5-6, entry of liability against Syria, a foreign sovereign, was authorized pursuant to the FSIA's "terrorism exception," as codified at 28 U.S.C. § 1605A. This Circuit has made clear that "the FSIA terrorism exception does not retroactively authorize the imposition of punitive damages against a sovereign for conduct occurring before the passage of § 1605A" in 2008. Owens v. Republic of Sudan, 864 F.3d 751, 812 (D.C. Cir. 2017). Because Defendant's conduct occurred on August 2, 2006, before the passage of section 1605A, the FSIA does not retroactively authorize the imposition of punitive damages here. Thus, the Court denies Plaintiffs' motion for entry of default judgment regarding punitive damages.
Ester Lelchook, acting as the legal representative of the Estate of David Lelchook, seeks to recover for economic loss caused by the death of David Lelchook in Defendant's missile attack.
In this case, Plaintiffs offer an expert report compiled by Chad Staller and Stephen Dripps, who serve as president and senior economist at the Center for Forensic Economic Studies, as evidence of economic loss sustained by the Estate of David Lelchook. See Pls.' Mem., Expert Report of Chad Staller and Stephen Dripps ("Staller & Dripps Expert Report"), ECF No. 29-1. This report establishes that, based on the average retirement age of 67 for an Israeli male, David Lelchook would have worked 15.3 more years, id. at 2, and accrued 1,889,909 in earnings, id. at 7.
The remaining four Plaintiffs—Michal Lelchook, Yael Lelchook, Alexander Lelchook, and the Estate of Doris Lelchook—seek compensatory damages for Defendant's intentional infliction of emotional distress. In the context of a suit under the FSIA, courts in this Circuit have found IIED and solatium claims to be "indistinguishable." Estate of Heiser v. Islamic Republic of Iran ("Heiser II"), 659 F.Supp.2d 20, 27 n.4 (D.D.C. 2009) (quoting Surette v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 231 F.Supp.2d 260, 267 (D.D.C. 2002) (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1397 (7th ed. 1999))); see also Flanagan v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 87 F.Supp.3d 93, 115 (D.D.C. 2015). Thus, in calculating the appropriate amount of compensatory damages, the Court considers only the IIED theory of relief, although its analysis takes into account "prior decisions awarding damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as decisions regarding solatium."
Given the importance of "ensur[ing] that individuals with similar injuries receive similar awards," courts in this jurisdiction confronting FSIA claims have adopted a general framework as "an appropriate measure of damages for the family members of victims who died" in a terrorist attack. Peterson v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 515 F.Supp.2d 25, 51, 54 (D.D.C. 2007), abrogation on other grounds recognized by Mohammadi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 947 F.Supp.2d 48 (D.D.C. 2013); see also Valore, 700 F. Supp. 2d at 85-86 (D.D.C. 2010) (noting "strong precedential support" for framework); Brewer v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 664 F.Supp.2d 43, 57-58 (D.D.C. 2009); Heiser II, 659 F. Supp. 2d at 27 n.4. Seeking consistency, this Court will follow this approach.
This damages framework, first set forth in Estate of Heiser v. Islamic Republic of Iran ("Heiser I"), 466 F.Supp.2d 229 (D.D.C. 2006), begins with baseline amounts and permits upward or downward departures. The familial relationship between the victim and the family member determines the baseline amount of the damages award, see Peterson, 515 F. Supp. 2d at 51, with valid claims by parents or children of a victim awarded $5 million and siblings of the victim awarded $2.5 million, Heiser II, 659 F. Supp. 2d at 27 n.4. See also Estate of Hirshfeld v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 330 F.Supp.3d 107, 146-47 (D.D.C 2018); Braun, 228 F. Supp. 3d at 85. Upward departures from this general framework are appropriate "in cases `with aggravating circumstances,' indicated by such things as `[t]estimony which describes a general feeling of permanent loss or change caused by decedent's absence' or `[m]edical treatment for depression and related affective disorders.'" Valore, 700 F. Supp. 2d at 85-86 (quoting Greenbaum v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 451 F.Supp.2d 90, 108 (D.D.C. 2006), then quoting Flatow, 999 F. Supp. at 31). The court's assessment, which "cannot be defined through models and variables," may also consider "[h]ow the claimant learned of [the] decedent's death, and whether there was an opportunity to say good-bye or view the body," which "can be a significant factor contributing to the claimant's anguish," as well as "[t]he nature of the relationship between the claimant and the decedent," particularly if it was "strong and close." Fraenkel, 892 F.3d at 356-57 (quoting Flatow, 999 F. Supp. at 29-30)). "Decisions to deviate from the starting points provided by the Heiser framework are committed to the discretion of the particular court in each case." Braun, 228 F. Supp. 3d at 85 (quoting Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 768 F.Supp.2d 16, 26-27 (D.D.C. 2011)).
With these principles in mind, the Court will assess Plaintiffs' compensatory damages claims.
Michal Lelchook, one of the two daughters of David Lelchook, "experienced and continues to experience severe and unconscionable mental anguish, bereavement, and unbearable grief" after her father's death. Pls.' Mem. 7. According to Michal's sworn declaration, she first learned of her father's death through a telephone call from her mother. Declaration of Michal Lelchook ("Michal Declaration") ¶ 5, ECF No. 29-3. She was working in the United States and hence needed to travel to Israel alone for the funeral, despite feeling "devastated and very scared." Id. Because Michal and her father were "extremely close," she "experienced extraordinary grief, mental anguish, and emotional distress." Id. ¶ 4. Her feelings of disorientation and shock persisted after the funeral. Id. ¶ 6. Because the same rocket had destroyed her family home on the Kibbutz, she "no longer had a physical or emotional home to return to," and she also felt unable to return to her previous employment. Id. ¶ 7.
These deep feelings of grief and distress did not dissipate. Over a decade after the attack, Michal "continue[s] to constantly feel that [her] father's murder was the worst thing in the world that could have happened to [her]." Id. ¶ 6. Her "pain and loss have caused [her] to become directionless in life" and "stuck at the time" of her father's murder. Id. ¶ 8. Although she received mental health counseling from a psychiatrist after the funeral, she was not able to continue with treatment because it was "too painful." Id. ¶ 9. Other alternative treatment modalities were also unhelpful to Michal, and nothing has taken away her pain. Id. Michal continues to struggle with daily activities, has experienced difficulty remaining employed, id. ¶ 10, and finds it difficult to make social connections or participate in social interactions because of her ongoing "feelings of isolation, inferiority, and weakness in life," id. ¶ 11. She also suffers from hypersensitivity to noises and experiences "frequent" "flashbacks" to her father's death, including "memories of where [she] identified [her] father's body in the morgue" and "the site of [her] destroyed house." Id. ¶ 12. These reports are affirmed by the psychiatrist who examined Michal, which Plaintiffs filed under seal with the Court given the sensitive personal nature of the report. See Expert Declaration of Dr. Rael Strous ("Strous Expert Decl.") ¶¶ 20-21, ECF No. 29-2.
The evidence offered illustrates that Michal Lelchook has been and continues to be psychologically affected by her father's death. Michal states that she was very close to her father (although no elaboration is provided or examples given indicating that this father-daughter relationship was closer than the norm). In addition, she never had the opportunity to say goodbye before learning of his death through a telephone call with her mother. These factors suggest that an upward adjustment is in order. Other courts have authorized upward departures where individuals are particularly affected by an event, such as a $3 million increase for an individual who suffered a "nervous breakdown" and required a year of medication after her sister's death, see Estate of Brown v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 872 F.Supp.2d 37, 43 (D.D.C. 2012), or a 25% upward departure for a brother who was so affected by his grief that he became socially reclusive, found it difficult to pursue a career, and engaged in substance abuse, see Baker v. Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahirya, 775 F.Supp.2d 48, 68 (D.D.C. 2011). Here, given the length of time—over 13 years—for which Michal has been affected, the existence of some of the aggravating factors found in Baker, her unsuccessful efforts to obtain psychological or medical relief for her condition, and the ongoing "general feeling of permanent loss or change caused by decedent's absence," Valore, 700 F. Supp. 2d at 86 (quoting Flatow, 999 F. Supp. at 31), the Court finds a 25% upward departure to be appropriate.
Yael Lelchook, David Lelchook's older daughter, avers that she was "extremely close" with her father and "experienced extraordinary grief, mental anguish, and emotional distress" that affect her to this day as a result of his death in the August 2, 2006 rocket attack. Declaration of Yael Lelchook Galili ("Yael Decl.") ¶ 4, ECF No. 29-4. During summer of 2006, Yael was a student at the Wingate Institute in Israel. See Strous Expert Decl. 20, ECF No. 29-2. She learned of her father's death when she saw a "body bag with [her] father on the news," whereupon she was so distraught that she "immediately started to scream." Yael Decl. ¶ 4. For six months after her father's death, she was unable to sleep or continue in her studies. Id. ¶ 6. Her grief persisted and Yael suffered from "nightmares so intense" that she did not sleep consistently through the night for about two years. Id. ¶ 7. To attempt to heal, she sought mental health counseling and received treatment from a psychiatrist for three and a half years. Id. ¶ 5. For approximately seven and a half years, Yael's "life was controlled" by the attack. Id. ¶ 8. She "barely lived life" and "went through the motions of living" without the ability to build "any close relationships" due to fear of loss, living in "overwhelming anger and fear" until she "drove [herself] to become emotionally numb." Id.
Although, with time, Yael was able to build relationships and cultivate a family of her own, id., she "feel[s] that [she] can never fully `move-on' from the loss," id. ¶ 9. She carries the "weight of [her] emotional baggage" and experiences "pessimistic and apathetic feelings towards much of [her] life." Id. To this day, she cries, tenses up, and shakes when she talks about her father, and until very recently, she remained unable to attend events that resurfaced her grief, such as the softball match played in his memory. Id. In addition, because her "father's murder created a difficult relationship between" Yael, her mother, and her sister, at times leading Yael to distance herself from them and feel "estranged" from them, her father's death has fundamentally affected her family structure. Id. ¶ 10.
On the evidence provided, it is clear that Yael experienced significant, enduring psychological suffering as a result of the attack. Yael learned of her father's death in a distressing and impersonal manner, without the opportunity to say goodbye, and was so affected by her grief that she began screaming and cannot recall more than a "blur." Id. ¶ 4. Her immediate reaction as well as her subsequent grieving period were extremely painful for Yael, and she lost her sense of place in the world. See Strous Expert Decl. at 21-22. Thereafter, her life trajectory was altered, id. at 22, and she struggled for almost a decade after the rocket attack—to the extent that she required ongoing psychiatric treatment to redress her strong grief reaction, Yael Decl. ¶ 5. Although she began to heal more significantly with the passage of time, based on the expert report submitted under seal, her life trajectory was altered by her father's death and she required medical intervention to re-center her life. See Strous Expert Decl. at 25. Moreover, she remains pained by the loss of her father to this day in ways that affect her mental outlook. Id.; see also Yael Decl. ¶ 9. Although Yael appears to now be doing much better than her sister, having married and raising children, she suffered the same loss as Michal and the Court will not lower her compensation award because she sought the appropriate medical attention. The Court thus finds that Yael has demonstrated "mental anguish in excess of that which would have been experienced following decedent's natural death," Flatow, 999 F. Supp at 31, and will award a 25% upward departure.
Alexander Lelchook, the older brother of David Lelchook, also seeks compensatory damages for the "anguish and continued grief" caused by his sibling's death. Pls.' Mem. 11. Alexander relates the "extremely close" relationship that he shared with his brother and the manner in which David "looked up to [him] as a mentor." Declaration of Alexander K. Lelchook (Alexander Decl.) ¶ 6, ECF No. 29-5. The brothers' "mutual respect created a strong bond" between them, and they were "so connected" that they had a "double wedding." Id. ¶¶ 6-7. David's death thus affected Alexander's psychological state significantly. Id. ¶¶ 8-9. For several years after his brother's death, he thought about his brother when he "was alone doing things" that he had previously enjoyed, id. ¶ 8, and to this day, Alexander avers that the loss of David caused him to become "less happy-go-lucky" in his attitude toward life. Id. ¶ 9. Thoughts of his brother and "what his death means" "torment him," and the anxiety that Alexander experienced since David's death "often cause[] [him] to overthink [his] feelings." Id. At times, his "extreme distress" has made it difficult to carry on with his daily functions. Id. ¶ 12. Alexander is especially affected around family holidays and the Jewish holidays because David's absence leads him to "feel his loss immeasurably." Id. ¶ 11.
Alexander also states that David's death has strained his psychological and physical health in other ways. Id. ¶¶ 13-14. He describes how the loss of David has profoundly affected the family structure in ways that cause him great distress. Id. ¶ 13. As David's older brother, Alexander feels a "responsibility" to "help maintain the unity" of the Lelchook family—a responsibility that he believes he has not been able to fulfill. Id. He particularly underscores both the impact of Michal's ongoing suffering and "withdrawal" and the "stress and anxiety" that he feels due to the altered family dynamics. Id. Alexander emphasizes his at times "daily concern" for the physical and mental state of his sister in law (Ester Lelchook) and his nieces (Michal and Yael Lelchook). Id. Alexander avers that this "chronic stress and frustration" has affected his physical wellbeing. Id. ¶ 14. Although Alexander did not suffer from any significant medical problems before David's death, he has since developed high blood pressure and struggled to enjoy life and work due to significant sleep deprivation. Id. Alexander's sleep has improved with time, yet he still experiences occasional "flashbacks of David and the situation surrounding his murder" when he prepares for bed. Id. He also remains particularly affected when he is with friends and the conversation turns to their families in Israel, which resurfaces "the loss and emptiness" that Alexander feels in David's absence. Id. ¶ 15. To this day, talking about his brother makes Alexander very emotional and causes him to become "sweaty, tense, emotional, and often cry." Id.; see also Strous Expert Decl. 83.
As noted previously, the Court must determine whether to apply an upward adjustment from the $2.5 million baseline for siblings of the decedent based on factors that include, as is most salient here, "the nature of the relationship [between plaintiff and victim] and the severity and duration of the pain suffered by the family member." Greenbaum, 451 F. Supp. 2d at 107 (quoting Haim, 425 F. Supp. 2d at 75). Taking the second factor first, Alexander's grief appears profound, and his commitment to maintaining his family structure from halfway across the world, notwithstanding the personal toll that this has taken upon him, is commendable. But even recognizing the ongoing psychological effects of the loss of his brother, Strous Expert Decl. 85, this Court must bear in mind "the general equitable principle" that a claim in a given case is to be benchmarked against "awards in similar cases," Oveissi, 768 F. Supp. 2d at 30 (quoting Brewer, 664 F. Supp. 2d at 55). Without in any way minimizing Alexander's psychological suffering, the evidence provided does not suggest the sort of "particularly devastating and uniquely acute suffering," Murphy, 740 F. Supp. 2d at 79, for which other courts have authorized significant upward adjustments, such as "several nervous breakdowns, at least one of which required hospitalization," Oveissi, 768 F. Supp. 2d at 30 (quoting Valore, 700 F. Supp. 2d at 86).
That said, the nature of the brothers' relationship and the family dynamics are unique here. In assessing the relationship between an individual claimant and an individual killed by a terrorist attack, the Court is to consider factors such as "strong emotional ties between the claimant and the decedent" and the "decedent's position in the family birth order relative to the claimant." Frankel, 892 F.3d at 357 (quoting Flatow, 999 F. Supp. at 31-32). Here, Alexander provides specific evidence, such as the brothers' double wedding, of their especially close bond, and his status as the eldest brother of the decedent has led him to carry an emotional burden within the family structure. Alexander Decl. ¶¶ 6-7, 13. And, at the time of the terrorist attack, David (the decedent) was planning to visit Alexander in America to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Strous Expert Decl. 79; see also Declaration of Doris E. Lelchook ("Doris Decl.") ¶ 7, ECF No. 29-6. Given such evidence in tandem with the manner in which the death of his brother has permanently changed Alexander's general outlook on life, the Court finds that an upward adjustment of 10% is appropriate.
Finally, the Court must consider the measure of damages to award to the Estate of Doris Lelchook. The baseline award for a parent of the decedent, and the figure with which the Court begins, is $5 million. As described previously, Doris Lelchook, the mother of David Lelchook, was alive at the time of her son's death and when the complaint was filed but has since passed away.
"No amount of money can alleviate the emotional impact of a child's" death, Flatow, 999 F. Supp. at 32, yet this Court must determine the amount of damages supported by the evidence provided. Here, there is a lack of specific evidence to sustain an upward departure from the baseline amount. Without an evaluation by a psychiatrist to elaborate on Doris's statements and without further details from Doris, the Court cannot ascertain whether her grief caused a "permanent loss or change"—beyond the extraordinary grief that one might expect from the loss of a child—that "changed [her] life in significant and grave ways."
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' motion for default judgment is
