GEORGE B. DANIELS, District Judge:
In this multi-district litigation ("MDL"), plaintiffs seek to hold those who aided, abetted, sponsored, conspired to sponsor, financed, or otherwise provided material support to Osama bin Laden and the terrorist organization al Qaeda, liable for the physical destruction, death and injuries suffered as a result of the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001. Plaintiffs maintain that the responsibility for the acts of international terrorism, perpetrated against the United States and its citizens, rests not only with Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and the nineteen hijackers, but also with the multitude of those who made it possible for the terrorist attacks to occur, as a result of the financial and other material support they provided to al Qaeda.
The birth of al Qaeda as a terrorist organization occurred in the late 1980's. Al Qaeda (Arabic meaning "Foundation") was intended to serve as a foundation upon which to build an Islamic global army. By working with allied terrorist groups with similar ideological views and anti-American sentiments, al Qaeda launched a global jihad. Plaintiffs maintain that al Qaeda relied on a worldwide network of banks, financial institutions, governments and their officials, charities, non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals financiers, who conspired to generate, launder, transfer and ultimately provide financial and other material support to al Qaeda, in order to sponsor its terrorist activities. Charities play a key role in terrorist financing. Under the guise of providing humanitarian aid, a legion of charities divert, to al Qaeda, the wealth of charitable donations they amass from both witting and unwitting donors.
Plaintiffs aver that, since at least the mid-1990's, Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda have publicly proclaimed that the United States was one of the primary targets of al Qaeda's global jihad, and have called for the killing of Americans whenever and wherever they may be found. Plaintiffs, therefore, contend that all those who provided material support to al Qaeda, from at least the mid-1990's onwards, have thereby knowingly participated in al Qaeda's global conspiracy to commit terrorist attacks against the United States, of which the September 11th attacks were an intended and foreseeable result. At the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, al Qaeda allegedly had at its disposal an annual income of approximately fifty million dollars, and assets, accumulated over a ten year period, of approximately three hundred to five hundred million dollars. Plaintiffs maintain that, absent the material support allegedly provided by defendants, al Qaeda would not have possessed the financial resources, physical assets, membership base, technological knowledge, communication skills, and global reach required to conceive, plan, and execute a terrorist attack on such a massive scale, as those committed on September 11, 2001. It was those defendants who provided al Qaeda with the means to recruit, train, and employ thousands of terrorists, including the twenty assigned to murder United States citizens and destroy United States landmarks on 9/11.
The various complaints, comprising this MDL litigation, plead primary and concerted theories of liability for violation of international, federal and state law. The late Judge Richard C. Casey presided over this MDL litigation for several years, and,
Upon the exhaustion of plaintiffs' appellate efforts, this Court directed the parties to identify all pending motions seeking dismissal on the grounds specifically addressed by the Second Circuit's decision. After receiving the parties' submissions, this Court immediately proceeded to identify and decide all of the individually filed dismissal motions of each of the fifty named defendants, identified by the parties in their submissions. See, In re Terrorist Attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 718 F.Supp.2d 456 (S.D.N.Y.2010) ("Terrorist IV"). Shortly after the issuance of the Court's decision, the Defendants' Executive Commit tee ("DEC") submitted an additional motion list, revealing eight defendants, not previously identified by the parties, who had similar pending motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. Of the remaining several hundred named defendants, the DEC also identified thirty-five defendants that it believed (in part erroneously) had pending motions to dismiss.
The DEC advised the Court that Prince Abdullah al Faisal bin Abdulaziz al Saud's ("Prince Abdullah") motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim, were still pending and had not been resolved by Judge Casey, during the three years they were pending before him. The docket sheet, however, reflects that, following Prince Abdullah's death, a Suggestion of Death was filed in 2007, and no motion for substitution of a party had ever been filed by plaintiffs. Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(a)(1), if a motion for substitution is not made within ninety days after service of a statement noting the death of the defendant, "the action ... against the decedent must be dismissed."
The remaining foreign defendants moving to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction are: Abdullah Naseef, Sulamain Al-Ali, Adnan Basha, Jamal Khalifa, Aqeel Al-Aqeel, Yassin Abdullah Kadi, and Soliman H.S. Al-Buthe. They all identify themselves as citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who lack the minimum United States contacts necessary to satisfy due process.
To withstand a Rule 12(b)(2) motion, plaintiffs have the burden of making a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction over the defendant. Thomas v. Ashcroft, 470 F.3d 491, 495 (2d Cir.2006). "Such a showing entails making legally sufficient allegations of jurisdiction, including an averment of facts that, if credited, would suffice to establish jurisdiction over the defendant." Penguin Group (USA) Inc. v. Am. Buddha, 609 F.3d 30, 35 (2d Cir.2010) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted).
To determine whether the exercise of jurisdiction comports with due process, the Court must engage in a two part analysis: "the `minimum contacts' inquiry and the `reasonableness' inquiry." Chloe v. Queen Bee of Beverly Hills, LLC, 616 F.3d 158, 164 (2d Cir.2010). Under the minimal contacts inquiry, the Court must determine whether a defendant has minimum contacts with the forum such that maintenance of the action does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. Frontera Resources Azerbaijan Corp. v. State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic, 582 F.3d 393, 396 (2d Cir.2009) (citation omitted). Jurisdiction over a corporation or charity's board member, officer or employee, who is sued in his individual capacity, must be premised on the defendant's own personal contacts with the forum, and not the acts and/or contacts carried out by the defendant in his official capacity. Terrorist IV, 718 F.Supp.2d at 471-72. If the Court determines that the requisite minimal contacts exists, the Court must then determine whether it would be reasonable, under the circumstances of the particular case, to exercise jurisdiction over the defendant. Metro. Life Ins. Co. v. Robertson-Ceco Corp., 84 F.3d 560, 568 (2d Cir.1996).
With regard to the initial minimal contacts inquiry, "a distinction is made between `specific' jurisdiction' and `general' jurisdiction." Chloe, 616 F.3d at 164. Specific jurisdiction applies where a defendant's contacts are related to the litigation, and general jurisdiction applies where they are unrelated. Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414 n. 8, 415 n. 9, 104 S.Ct. 1868, 80 L.Ed.2d 404. The minimal contact test for general jurisdiction is more stringent than that applicable for the exercise of specific jurisdiction. Metro Life, 84 F.3d at 568.
Specific jurisdiction, on the other hand, arises where the defendant's forum-related contacts give rise to, or are related to, the claims for which he is being sued. For the exercise of specific jurisdiction, due process requires that "the defendant has `purposefully directed' his activities at residents of the forum, and the litigation resulted from alleged injuries that `arise out of or relate to' those activities." Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 472, 105 S.Ct. 2174, 85 L.Ed.2d 528 (1985) (internal citations omitted). Specific jurisdiction over a foreign defendant may be exercise "based on his alleged: (1) intentional, tortious actions; (2) which were expressly aimed at the United States; (3) that causes harm, the brunt of which is suffered—and which the defendant knows is likely to be suffered— in the United States; and (4) the injuries that are the subject of the litigation arise from or relate to defendant's subject conduct." Terrorist IV, 718 F.Supp.2d at 478-79 (citing Calder v. Jones, 465 U.S. 783, 789-90, 104 S.Ct. 1482, 79 L.Ed.2d 804 (1984)); see also Terrorist III, 538 F.3d at 95. For purposes of this litigation, "a defendant's alleged intentional tortious conduct aimed at the United States is conduct that is intended to directly aid in the commission of a terrorist act, with knowledge that the brunt of the injuries will be felt in the United States." Id. at 480. If the subject activities of a particular defendant "are intentionally performed to support some future attack to be planned by al Qaeda against the United States, reasonably anticipating that the brunt of the injuries will be felt there, the defendant need not know that the support provided is specifically for the 9/11 attacks in order to be subject to the exercise of personal jurisdiction." Id. at 481. Simply pleading, in a conclusory manner, that a defendant aided and abetted, acted in concert, or conspired with those responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, is insufficient. The specific factual allegations must demonstrate that the particular defendant himself engaged in wrongful conduct with the intent to directly aid in the commission of a terrorist act against the United States, from which plaintiffs' claimed injuries arise or relate. Plaintiffs have failed to make the requisite prima facie showing that jurisdiction exists over the remaining moving defendants.
Yassin Kadi is argued to be subject to personal jurisdiction, under general and specific jurisdictional theories. Plaintiffs allege that Kadi was designated by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, based on his support of al Qaeda because "the Albania government had accused Kadi of utilizing business ventures to funnel money to Al Qaeda..." (Pls.' Consolidated Opp. Mem. at 19). Plaintiffs further allege that Kadi heads the Saudi-based charity Muwafaq, an al Qaeda front that transfers millions of dollars to the terrorist organization.
Plaintiffs further allege that companies controlled by Kadi have served as a means through which he has invested millions of dollars in companies in the United States. He also is a director of the Nevada-based company, Global Diamond Resources. Plaintiffs allege that many of the companies, that Kadi is associated with, have their own ties to terrorism. Plaintiffs further claim that Kadi was involved in real estate investments in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The proffered evidentiary support for plaintiffs' assertion, however, does not demonstrate that Kadi himself owned any real estate in the United States.
Since Kadi is being sued in his individual capacity, he is only subject to general jurisdiction if his own personal contacts with the United States are found to be continuous and systematic. Thus, the United States contacts of charities or companies alleged controlled by Kadi, or in which he served as a director or officer of, cannot be considered in determining whether Kadi himself has sufficient contacts with the United States to justify the exercise of personal jurisdiction over him. See, Terrorist IV, 718 F.Supp.2d at 470-72 (citations omitted). The totality of Kadi's purported contacts with the United States do not rise to the requisite level of being continuous and systematic, in order to satisfy the stringent general jurisdiction test.
Allegations that Kadi was an officer, investor and/or benefactor of businesses and charities having terrorist ties, is similarly insufficient to confer specific jurisdiction. See, Id. at 483-84. Nor is Kadi's terrorist designation alone sufficient for the acquisition of personal jurisdiction. Judge Casey had observed that, "while perhaps not dispositive on its own, [a defendant's] designation as a terrorist lends substantial weight to Plaintiffs' claims that he purposefully directed his activities at the United States and that the exercise of personal jurisdiction over him comports with due process." Terrorist I, 349 F.Supp.2d at 825. While such a designation may give rise to an inference that defendant provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, it does not automatically support an inference that the material support was intentionally provided to aid in the commission of a terrorist act expressly aimed at the United States. Plaintiffs' allegations that Kadi is a terrorist financier of several terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda, also does not demonstrate that he purposefully directed his activities at the United States and its residents.
Jamal Khalifa is argued to be subject to personal jurisdiction, under a specific jurisdictional theory. Plaintiffs identify Khalifa as a key al Qaeda operative and known terrorist, who is also Osama bin Laden's brother-in-law. Plaintiffs allege that Khalifa, acting on behalf of al Qaeda, opened an office in Pakistan for the Muslim World League ("MWL"). The MWL, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, is alleged to be an al Qaeda front charity which also served as an umbrella organization for other suspect charities, including
Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that Khalifa is subject to personal jurisdiction, under a specific jurisdictional approach. Plaintiffs do not allege that Khalifa himself played any role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Although plaintiffs allege that Khalifa was a key al Qaeda operative, they do not allege that he any had authority to steward the direction of al Qaeda's terrorist operations. Cf., Morris v. Khadr, 415 F.Supp.2d 1323, 1336 (D.Utah 2006) (finding specific jurisdiction over defendant where "plaintiffs [] made a prima facie showing that [defendant] actively participated in and helped plan al Qaeda's terrorist agenda ..."). The allegations of Khalifa's involvement in terrorist activities, during the 1990's, are insufficient to demonstrate that the injuries suffered, on September 11, 2001, are related to or arise from Khalifa's intentional tortious activities.
Plaintiffs argues that both Aqeel Al-Aqeel and Soliman H.S. Al-Buthe's contacts with the United States are sufficient to confer jurisdiction. Al-Aqeel allegedly served as: (1) Vice President and Secretary General of defendant Al Haramain Islamic Foundation ("AHIF"), a purported charitable organization headquartered in Saudi Arabia with branch offices worldwide; and (2) President of defendant Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc. ("AHIF-USA"), the United States branch of AHIF based in Oregon. Al-Buthe is allegedly one of the founders of AHIF-USA, as well as its Treasurer. Plaintiffs claim that all the branches of AHIF are under the same management and control, including several branches designated as global terrorists. Plaintiffs allege that AHIF, in conjunction with its branch offices, operate as a fully integrated component of al Qaeda. Plaintiffs further allege that, in February of 2000, Al-Buthe was indicted for his purported role in transporting money between the AHIF offices in Oregon and Saudi Arabia, as part of a purported scheme to divert charitable donations to al Qaeda fighters in Chechnya.
Al-Buthe asserts that he is a resident of Saudi Arabia whose only connection with the United States was his involvement with AHIF-USA. Al-Aqeel represents that he is a citizen and resident of Saudi Arabia, and has lived there his entire life. He further avers that he has visited the United States on one occasion in 2000. (Al-Aqeel Aff. ¶ 5). Plaintiffs, however, argue that defendants' assertions are contradicted by AHIF's 1999 reincorporation papers and 1999-2001 tax filings, which all lists the same United States address, in Oregon, for both Al-Buthe and Al-Aqeel.
Although AHIF-USA identified a United States "address" for Al-Buthe and Al-Aqeel, the papers, upon which plaintiffs rely, do not indicate that either defendant maintained a residence in the United States. The identical Oregon address is listed for each of the four officers of AHIF-USA. Plaintiffs, nevertheless, maintain that, by engaging in the running of a charity based in the United States for
Plaintiffs also argue that the remaining moving defendants, (i.e., Naseef, Al-Ali and Basha), are subject to personal jurisdiction for their connection to a claimed al Qaeda front charity. Abdullah Naseef allegedly served as the Secretary-General of the MWL, the purported parent organization of the IIRO. He is also alleged to be an officer of the Rabita Trust, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity which also is claimed to operate under the aegis of MWL. Plaintiffs contend that Naseef knowingly provided financial support to al Qaeda, through the MWL, Rabita Trust and the IIRO.
As Secretary-General of the IIRO, defendant Adnan Basha allegedly provided financial support to al Qaeda. Plaintiffs allege that, at some unspecified time, Basha knew and intended that the IIRO provide al Qaeda with six hundred million dollars to fund terrorist camps in Afghanistan. Plaintiffs further alleges that several of the 9/11 hijackers received terrorist training at those camps. Plaintiffs do not, however, allege that the purported financial support was intentionally provided by Basha for the purpose of helping train al Qaeda recruits to commit acts of terrorism against the United States or its nationals.
Sulamain Al-Ali is identified as being a member of IIRO's Executive Commit tee and the founder of its United States branch. He is also allegedly an officer of defendant Sana-Bell, Inc., the purported United States branch of defendant Sanabel Al-Kheer. Sanabel Al-Kheer was allegedly established to raise funds for IIRO operations. Plaintiffs allege that, in addition to Al-Ali's own significant dubious charitable donations, Al-Ali made several financial investments on behalf of IIRO and Sana-Bell Inc. to provide support to al Qaeda and its charity sponsors.
Plaintiffs argue that defendants Al-Buthe, Al-Aqeel, Naseef, Al-Ali, and Basha are all subject to specific jurisdiction because they allegedly used their offices in purported al Qaeda front organizations to aim their conduct at the United States, by providing material support to al Qaeda, when it was publicly known that al Qaeda was engaged in a global terrorist agenda directed at the United States. Plaintiffs maintain that no more is required to satisfy due process. Due process, in fact, requires more. All those, who allegedly provided material support to the international terrorist organization al Qaeda, are not subject to the jurisdiction of the American courts simply by virtue of the United States being identified as one of the primary
Accordingly, the motions of defendants Kadi, Khalifa, Al-Aqeel, Al-Buthe, Naseef, Al-Ali and Basha, to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, are granted.
Related defendants Grove Corporation, Inc., Mar-Jac Investments, Inc., Mena Corporation, Reston Investments, Inc., Sterling Management Group, Inc., African Muslim Agency, Heritage Education Trust, International Institute of Islamic Thought ("HIT"), Safa Trust, Mohammed Jaghit and Ahmed Totonji have renewed their Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss the respective claims asserted against them in the Federal Ins. v. Al Qaeda, 03 CV 6978, complaint. Rather than responding to the motions on their merits, plaintiffs filed a motion to strike the renewed motions to dismiss.
Plaintiffs argue that, pursuant to a previous Order of Judge Casey, defendants are precluded from renewing their dismissal motions prior to the parties' completion of the jurisdictional discovery Judge Casey authorized. The initial motions filed by these defendants sought dismissal of the claims asserted in the Federal complaint for both lack of personal jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2) and (6) respectively. Judge Casey concluded that jurisdictional discovery was necessary for that court to decide defendants' motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. Judge Casey concluded that such discovery would, as well, aid in his ability to resolve the motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim. Judge Casey accordingly denied defendants' motions to dismiss, without prejudice to renewing the motions upon the completion of personal jurisdictional discovery. Terrorist I, 349 F.Supp.2d at 837. Defendants subsequently withdrew their personal jurisdiction defense, thereby eradicating the need for jurisdictional discovery.
Judge Casey's ruling that the defendants could renew their motions to dismiss, after the completion of the anticipated jurisdictional discovery, was premised on the assumption that the defendants intended to pursue their lack of personal jurisdictional defense. Having abandoned such a defense and voluntarily submitting to the jurisdiction of the Court, jurisdictional discovery is no longer warranted. The resolution of a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim is not dependent on matters disclosed during jurisdictional discovery. A Rule 12(b)(6) motion tests the sufficiency of the plaintiffs' pleadings. A defendant is not put to the onerous task of engaging in intrusive and expensive discovery in order to assist a plaintiff in the hopes of uncovering evidence of an actionable wrong, so as to justify the maintenance of the action. Accordingly, the Federal plaintiffs' motion to strike the renewed motions, is denied.
Several defendants have moved, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), to dismiss the claims asserted against them in all of the
The requisite pleading standard demands more than the sheer possibility of a defendant's wrongdoing. Vaughn v. Air Line Pilots Ass'n, Int'l, 604 F.3d 703, 709 (2d Cir.2010) (citation omitted), aff'd 377 Fed.Appx. 88 (2d Cir.2010). Plaintiffs cannot plead conclusory concerted theories of liability in an effort to attribute the alleged wrongdoing of others to a particular defendant himself. Thus, "[b]road allegations of conspiracy are insufficient; the plaintiff `must provide some factual basis supporting a meeting of the minds, such that defendants entered into an agreement, express or tacit, to achieve the unlawful end.'" Arar v. Ashcroft, 585 F.3d 559, 569 (2d Cir.2009) (quoting Webb v. Goord, 340 F.3d 105, 110 (2d Cir.2003)). Where the complaint merely pleads facts giving rise to an inference of a defendant's possible wrongdoing, the claims against that defendant must be dismissed. See, Starr v. Sony BMG Music Entm't, 592 F.3d 314, 321 (2d Cir.2010).
In the context of a MDL litigation, it is generally appropriate for the Court to individually analyze the sufficiency of the pleadings of each complaint challenged by a particular defendant; a practice adhered to by Judge Casey. It is, however, of great significance that there is no appreciable substantive difference in the factual allegations pled against each of the moving defendants, in the various complaints in which each is named as a defendant. As a result of the parties' earlier duplicative motion practice, in conjunction with Judge Casey's piecemeal initial resolution thereof, several hundred separately docketed motions remained outstanding when the MDL litigation was reassigned to this Court. Many of the pending 12(b)(6) motions, that this Court must now decide, are by defendants whose similar motions to dismiss other MDL actions, have already been granted by a different court, utilizing the less stringent pre-Twombly/Iqbal pleading standard. To avoid unnecessary repetitiveness, this Court, to the extent appropriate, analyzes each defendant's individually
The complaints assert federal causes of action under the Anti-Terrorism Act ("ATA"), 18 U.S.C. § 2333, the Alien Tort Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1350, the Torture Victim Protection Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1350 note (a)(1), and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"), 18 U.S.C. § 1962. Among the state law claims pled are causes of action for wrongful death and survival, assault and battery, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional harm, trespass, destruction of property, and negligence. Plaintiffs do not allege that any of the moving defendants are the primary actors responsible for the planning, preparation or execution of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is the alleged intentional provision of material support to sponsor acts of international terrorism that forms the basis upon which plaintiffs seek to impose liability.
Plaintiffs impermissibly attempt to broaden the scope of liability to include those who allegedly aided, abetted, conspired and/or provided material support to other terrorist organizations that were affiliated with al Qaeda.
The Anti-Terrorism Act creates a private cause of action to recover for physical and property damages sustained by United States nationals who are the victims of international terrorism. Because of the Anti-Terrorism Act's limited applicability, a smaller group of plaintiffs seek to utilize the Alien Tort Statute ("ATS") as a means to redress the injuries suffered by 9/11 victims who are foreign nationals. The ATS bestows subject matter jurisdiction upon the district courts over claims by an alien for violation of a well-defined and universally-accepted rule of international law. Additionally, the complaints plead federal causes of action for violation of the
The ATS "`confers federal subject-matter jurisdiction when the following three conditions are satisfied: (1) an alien sues (2) for a tort (3) committed in violation of the law of nations (i.e., international law).'" Kadic v. Karadzic, 70 F.3d 232, 238 (2d Cir.1995). "Congress intended the ATS to furnish jurisdiction for a relatively modest set of actions alleging violations of the laws of nations." Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, 542 U.S. 692, 720, 124 S.Ct. 2739, 159 L.Ed.2d 718 (2004). "An ATS claim may be brought against a non-governmental actor when his tortious acts violate norms of universal concerns that are recognized to extend to the conduct of private parties, such as the hijacking of an aircraft." Terrorist IV, 718 F.Supp.2d at 493 (citing Abdullahi v. Pfizer, Inc., 562 F.3d at 163, 173 (2d Cir.2009) and Vietnam Ass'n for Victims of Agent Orange v. Dow Chemical Co., 517 F.3d 104, 116 (2d Cir. 2008)).
Judge Casey previously opined that the ATS "may provide a basis for a concerted action claim of material support by alien-Plaintiffs here." Terrorist I, 349 F.Supp.2d at 826. Simply pleading a concerted theory of liability in conjunction with allegations that a defendant intentionally provided material support to sponsor al Qaeda's acts of international terrorism, will not, however, suffice. Where an ATS claim is pled against a defendant, under a concerted theory of liability, the applicable mens rea standard is purpose, rather than knowledge alone. Presbyterian Church of Sudan v. Talisman Energy, Inc., 582 F.3d 244, 259 (2d Cir.2009). Therefore, for the plaintiffs to state a claim for violation of international law under the ATS, the factual allegations pled must support a reasonable inference that the defendant purposefully aided and abetted, conspired with, or materially supported al Qaeda in the commission of an act of terrorism involving the hijacking of a commercial airplane. The allegations respectively pled in each of the complaints fail to support such an inference as to any of the moving defendants. Accordingly, the causes of action separately pled as violations of international law and as violations under the ATS, are dismissed against the moving defendants.
"Unlike the ATS, the TVPA expressly renders liable only those individuals who have committed torture or extrajudicial killing under actual or apparent authority, or color of law, of any foreign nation." Doe v. Constant, 354 Fed.Appx. 543, 546 (2d Cir.2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). "For purposes of the TVPA, an individual `acts under color of law . . . when he acts together with state officials or with significant state aid.'" Khulumani v. Barclay Nat'l Bank, Ltd., 504 F.3d 254, 260 (2d Cir.2007) (quoting Karadzic, 70 F.3d at 245). Although the
Also deficiently pled are the RICO causes of action. To plead a RICO claim, plaintiffs must plead: (1) defendant's violation of a RICO provision; (2) an injury to plaintiffs' business or property; and (3) proximate cause between defendant's violation and plaintiff's injury. Plaintiffs have pled RICO claims for violations of (a), (c) and (d) of § 1962. "Section 1962 of RICO outlaws (a) the use of income `derived . . . from a pattern of racketeering activity' to acquire an interest in, establish, or operate an enterprise engaged in or affecting interstate commerce; (b) the acquisition of any interest in or control of such an enterprise `through a pattern of racketeering activity'; `(c) the conduct or participation in the conduct of such an enterprise's affairs `through a pattern of racketeering activity'; and (d) conspiring to do any of the above." GICC Capital Corp. v. Technology Finance Group, Inc., 67 F.3d 463, 465 (2d Cir.1995).
The complaints fail to allege any injury arising from the defendants' investment of the racketeering income, as required to recover under § 1962(a). Nor do the pleadings support a factual finding that any moving defendant took some part in directing the affairs of the al Qaeda enterprise, as is required to recover under § 1962(c). See, Reves v. Ernst & Young, 507 U.S. 170, 179, 113 S.Ct. 1163, 122 L.Ed.2d 525 (1993). Finally, no factual basis is alleged in any of the complaints that would support a finding of a conscious agreement, among the defendants, to commit two predicate acts in furtherance of the common purpose of the RICO enterprise, as is required to recover under (d). Hecht v. Commerce Clearing House, Inc., 897 F.2d 21, 26 n. 4 (2d Cir.1990).
Defendants maintain that the allegations pled in the respective complaints are insufficient to state a claim under the ATA. The arguments predominantly advanced by the defendants are that plaintiffs rely on mere conclusory statements couched as factual allegations, and that the mens rea and proximate cause elements are not made out. The purported failure to sufficiently plead the causation is also the grounds upon which some of the defendants are moving to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1).
Section 2333 is the civil provision of the ATA, which provides that "[a]ny national of the United States injured in his or her person, property, or business by reason of an act of international terrorism, or his or her estate, survivors or heirs may sue therefore . . ." 18 U.S.C. § 2333(a). In addition to other definitional requirements, the phrase "international terrorism" is statutorily defined as activities that involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are prohibited under federal or state criminal law.
To violate § 2339B, a person must have knowledge that the organization is a designated terrorist organization or knowledge that the organization has engaged in terrorist activity. See, § 2339B(a)(1). "Congress plainly spoke to the necessary mental state for a [criminal] violation of § 2339B, and it chose knowledge about the organization's connection to terrorism, not specific intent to further the organization's terrorist activities." Humanitarian Law Project, 130 S.Ct. at 2717.
A defendant cannot be held secondarily liable, under § 2333, for the material support provided by others to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Boim v. Holy Land Found. for Relief and Dev., 549 F.3d 685, 689-90 (7th Cir.2008) ("Boim II"). Because only primary liability is available, "the ordinary tort requirements relating to fault, state of mind, causation, and foreseeabilty must [also] be satisfied . . ." Id. 692. Traditional tort elements are incorporated within § 2333 itself, to wit: "breach of a duty (i.e., committing an act of international terrorism); injury to the person, property or business of another; and causation (injured `by reason of')." Boim v. Quranic Literacy Inst. & Holy Land Foun. for Relief & Dev., 291 F.3d 1000, 1010 (7th Cir.2002) ("Boim I").
To make out the breach of duty element, plaintiffs must plead factual allegations demonstrating that the defendant provided material support or resources to an organization that commits terrorist acts. It is of no import whether such material support was provided directly
A defendant must either know that the recipient of the material support provided by him is an organization that engages in terrorist acts, or defendant must be deliberately indifferent to whether or not the organization does so, i.e., defendant knows there is a substantial probability that the organization engages in terrorism, but does not care. Boim II, 549 F.3d at 693. "Foreign organizations that engage in terrorist activity are so tainted by their criminal conduct that any contribution to such an organization facilitates that conduct." Humanitarian Law Project, 130 S.Ct. at 2724 (emphasis in original) (quotation marks and alterations omitted). Providing material support to fund a terrorist organization's non-terrorist activities, merely "frees up other resources within the organization that may be put to violent ends." Id. at 2705. It is, therefore, wholly foreseeable that a terrorist organization could use any material support provided to it as part of a broader strategy to promote terrorism. Those who knowingly or with deliberate indifference provide material support to a terrorist organization, regardless of their benign stated purpose for doing so, assume the risk that the support provided will be used by terrorists to commit violent terrorist acts.
The traditional causation element applicable is slightly modified in a § 2333 claim against alleged terrorist financiers. See, Boim II, 549 F.3d at 697-88. While there must be a causal connection between the defendant's provision of material support and plaintiffs' injuries, there need not be a direct relationship. Thus, for pleadings purposes, plaintiffs are not required to plead factual allegations to demonstrate that the alleged material support provided by the defendant was the proximate cause of plaintiffs' claimed injuries. Where the allegations pled demonstrate that there is a temporal proximity between the material support provided and the terrorist act which caused plaintiffs' injuries, it may be reasonable to infer that the recently provided material support made it more likely that the terrorist act would occur. Where, however, there is a remoteness in time, there must be sufficient factual allegations of a connection between the material support provided and the acts of terrorism that caused plaintiffs' injuries, such that a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that it was more likely than not that the support provided by the defendant assisted the terrorists in the commission of the terrorist act.
Defendant Banca Del Gottardo ("BDG") is a Switzerland-based bank that is alleged to have provided al Qaeda with material support in the form of banking services. Plaintiffs fail to plead any factual allegations in support of such an accusation. Rather, they rely on a 2004 newspaper article which reported, in a conclusory manner, that BDG moved money for al Qaeda via al Taqwa bank, a purported shell that operated through correspondent accounts at a BDG branch in Nassau. Plaintiffs allege that al Taqwa bank has been sanctioned by the United States and the United Nations for funding al Qaeda and other terrorist activities. Plaintiffs further allege that BDG handled payments for the "money network" of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who himself maintained a bank account at BDG in the name of "Satan account." Plaintiffs assert that "[t]here have been links to support Saddam's funding of the Al Qaeda." (BDG MDS ¶ 24).
A bank cannot be held liable for the injuries sustained by an act of terrorism simply because the monies that funded the violent act passed through the bank itself, or one of its correspondent banking accounts, during the performance of routine banking services. See, Terrorist IV, 718 F.Supp.2d at 488-90. A bank cannot be held liable for the wrongdoing of its patron based solely on the allegations that the patron utilized the banking and financial services offered to all bank customers. See, Lerner v. Fleet Bank, N.A., 459 F.3d 273, 286 (2d Cir.2006); see also, Stutts v. De Dietrich Group, 2006 WL 1867060 (E.D.N.Y.2006) (finding bank did not engage in international terrorist by issuing letters of credit to weapons suppliers for Hussein's Iraqi regime.). Accordingly, BDG's Rule 12(b)(6) motion is granted.
The allegations pled against defendants Council on American-Islamic Relations and Council on American-Islamic Relations-Canada (collectively "CAIR") are also insufficient, and warrant the granting of their motion to dismiss.
Defendant purportedly operates in furtherance of the goals and objectives of Hamas. Merely because the services, defendants allegedly provide, are beneficial
Defendant World Assembly of Muslim Youth ("WAMY"), is alleged to be an al Qaeda front charity, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, which has a physical and operational presence in at least fifty-six countries. Plaintiffs allege that, for more than a decade WAMY has knowingly and intentionally used its international infrastructure as a tool to provide support to al Qaeda. Plaintiffs allege that WAMY disseminates literature worldwide calculated to promote global jihadist agenda, convince young Muslims to reject United States and democratic ideas, demonize Christians, Jews and non-Wahhabi Muslims, and convince young Muslims to engage in violent jihad against the West and Israel. WAMY allegedly uses its publications, youth camps, Islamic Centers, mosques conferences and other sponsored events, to provide ideological foundation for the al Qaeda movement, actively advocating for young Muslims to take up arms and engage in a violent jihad against the United States. Plaintiffs allege that WAMY has also supported the militant and terrorist activities of al Qaeda in Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosova, Kashmir, Pakistan, South East Asia, the United States, and elsewhere. Acting on behalf of al Qaeda, WAMY has allegedly raised and laundered funds, performed reconnaissance missions, funded and facilitated al Qaeda training camps, and operated as a recruiting center.
Plaintiffs allege that WAMY had a physical presence in the United States, which it used to channel material support to al Qaeda. In 1992, Osama bin Laden's nephew allegedly established, in Virginia, the United States branch of WAMY, defendant World Assembly of Muslim Youth International ("WAMY-Int'l"). Plaintiffs further allege that, in 2002, federal authorities raided the offices of WAMY-Int'l in Virginia, in connection with an ongoing investigation into the sponsoring of al Qaeda.
Notwithstanding defendants' arguments to the contrary, the mens rea and causation elements are sufficiently pled against both WAMY and WAMY-Int'l. Defendants further argue that the activities, of which plaintiffs complain, fall within the constitutionally protected activities of free speech and to free association. The ATA does not prohibit mere association with a foreign terrorist organization, nor is it intended to abridge First Amendment rights. See, Humanitarian Law Project, 130 S.Ct. at 2728, 2730-31. One is free to espouse support for a foreign terrorist organization, and to engage in independent advocacy as a means to sway others into adopting one's pro-terrorist point of view. Establishing meeting places, holding public forums, or issuing publications to disseminate virulent rhetoric is not actionable, under § 2333, unless such services are being provided as support to a foreign terrorist organizations. The allegations pled against the WAMY defendants are sufficient to demonstrate that
AHIF is a purported charitable organization, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, which operated through its branch offices in nearly fifty countries. Plaintiffs allege that AHIF and its branch offices are under a single management, and are so intertwined so as to be deemed to be operating as a single entity. AHIF's website allegedly had a direct link to al Qaeda's site pertaining to its Chechen operations. Additionally, AHIF was allegedly banned from Kenya for national security concerns related to the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Africa. Intelligence officials throughout the world have allegedly acknowledged that AHIF is a charity front which exploits its non-profit status for the benefit of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. Several of its branches have been designated as terrorist organizations, including its branch in the United States, AHIF-USA. Defendant Perouz Sedaghaty purportedly was a founder of AHIF-USA, and served as its Secretary.
AHIF, AHIF-USA and Sedaghaty all argue that causation is inadequately pled. However, the allegations pled against these defendants is sufficient to make out the requisite element of causation. AHIF-USA further argues that the alleged wrongdoing of AHIF cannot be imputed to it based merely on plaintiffs' conclusory assertion that AHIF-USA and AHIF are one and the same.
Defendant Dar Al-Maal-Al-Islami Trust ("DMI Trust") is alleged to be
Sanabel Al-Kheer was established by IIRO to engage in fund-raising and make investments designed to support the purported charitable operations of IIRO. IIRO allegedly distributes less than thirty percent (30%) of its funds for charitable works, with the rest being used to purchase weapons by and for al Qaeda. Sanabel Al-Kheer solicited donations through full-page advertisements identifying bank account numbers, in order to facilitate the collection of donations purportedly earmarked to help the needy. Over a period of years, IIRO and Sanabel Al-Kheer jointly held numerous high profile fund-raising events. Their joint efforts proved to be so successful as to net a one day total of over SR29 million, of which SR12 million was transferred by Sanabel Al-Kheer to IIRO to underwrite its operations in the Balkans. In addition to its fund-raising, Sanabel Al-Kheer's global investments had allegedly returned SR425 million in profits by the start of 1997.
The allegations are sufficient to demonstrate that Sanabel Al-Kheer served to generate and infuse al Qaeda front IIRO with the financial capital necessary to underwrite its terrorist operations. The allegations pled also support a finding that Sanabel Al-Kheer worked together with IIRO to raise a wealth of financial support for al Qaeda, to sponsor the organization's terrorist activities. Accordingly, Sanabel Al-Kheer's Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss is denied.
Dismissal is, however, warranted as to defendants Saleh Kamel, Al-Baraka Investment and Development Corporation ("ABIDC"), and Dallah Al Baraka L.L.C. ("DAB"). Plaintiffs allege that Kamel is a principal financier of al Qaeda, who has made substantial contributions to numerous charities operating within al Qaeda's infrastructure, with full knowledge that those funds would support terrorist activities. Kamel is purportedly a co-founder of United States-based Sana-Bell, Inc., which was allegedly established by Sanabel Al-Kheer to generate funds for, and funnel funds to, the United States arm of IIRO. ABIDC was allegedly founded, by its Chairman Kamel, to serve as a central financial clearing house for Islamic terrorist groups. Plaintiffs allege that Kamel also founded and heads DAB, whose wholly owned subsidiary ABIDC operates as its financial arm.
Plaintiffs allege that, while Osama bin Laden was in the Sudan during the early 1990's, defendants provided him with funding, banking services and the financial infrastructure that he used to establish al Qaeda training camps, train terrorists, and carry out terrorist attacks against the United States. The United States had not even been targeted by al Qaeda, when the claimed wrongdoing occurred. Thus, the alleged provision of material support is too remote from the 9/11 terrorist attacks to establish the requisite causal connection. It is also too attenuated to hold DAB liable for material support provided to the 9/11
Defendant Islamic Assembly of North America ("IANA") identifies itself as a Michigan-based non-profit group which promotes and teaches Islam and Islamic values in the United States and Canada. Plaintiffs maintains that it is an al Qaeda front charity. Plaintiffs allege that, "[i]n order to achieve its goal of promoting the spread of fundamentalist Islam, IANA and its officers have spent large sums of money on sponsoring extremist political conferences held inside the United States, publishing websites, books, and magazines written by radical anti-American ... clerics, and by obtaining controlling stakes in a number of prominent American mosques." (IANA MDS ¶ 19). IANA allegedly relied on Sami al-Hussayen for funding and internet development services. Plaintiffs allege that al-Hussayen maintained bank accounts, in the United States, to receive donations and large sums of money for others, including al Qaeda affiliated charities such as IANA. Plaintiffs further allege that the monies, transferred to IANA by al-Hussayen, were used to fund IANA operations and to support jihad and the al Qaeda network.
From 1999 to 2003, al-Hussayen allegedly functioned as an employee and official of IANA. He provided expert computer services, advice, assistance, and support to IANA in the form of website registration, administration and maintenance. Plaintiffs allege that "IANA and Sami al-Hussayen created and managed numerous websites that exhibited a fundamentalist Islamic trait and incited violence against the West in a manner consistent with al-Qaeda's ideology and rhetoric." (Id. ¶ 40). Plaintiffs allege that, by purportedly publishing al Qaeda's spiritual leaders' statements online, "IANA is supporting al-Qaeda's efforts to indoctrinate and incite followers worldwide." (Id. ¶ 48). Al-Hussayen is alleged to have provided material support to al Qaeda by: (1) promoting and distributing statements issued by al Qaeda's spiritual leaders; and (2)through the collection of donations in bank accounts he maintained.
The allegations pled against IANA are insufficient, and accordingly its motion to dismiss is granted. Any form of material support furnished
The remaining moving defendants are individuals and entities, who are alleged to be part of a network that operates on behalf of al Qaeda, which plaintiffs refer to as the SAAR Network.
An attribution of wrongdoing is not factually pled. Plaintiffs merely plead conclusory assertions against a large group of defendants, whom plaintiffs have independently concluded to be related and operating in unison. None of the defendants can be held liable based on such allegations alone. The requisite additional factual allegations are pled against Jamal Barzinji alone. Accordingly, with the exception of defendant Barzinji, the Rule 12(b)(6) motions filed by remaining defendants denominated as SAAR Network entities and executives, are granted.
Judge Casey determined the additional allegation pled, in the Federal complaint,
Barzinji seeks to have the amendments struck, and the claims dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). His motions are denied. As evidence that Judge Casey had erred, Barzinji cites to contradictory allegations in other complaints, but does not affirmatively represent what, if any, relationship exist between himself and Nada. Whether there is a relationship and, if so, its true nature, are matters appropriate for discovery, and should be the subject of a summary judgment motion, not a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.
Defendant Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc.'s eight individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2), for lack of personal jurisdiction, are all denied.
Defendant Perouz Sedaghaty's seven individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2), for lack of personal jurisdiction, are all denied.
Defendant World Assembly of Muslim Youth's six individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), for failure to state a claim, are all denied.
Defendant World Assembly of Muslim Youth International's six individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), are all denied.
Defendant Perouz Sedaghaty's seven individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), for failure to state a claim, are all denied.
Defendant Jamal Barzinji's five individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), are all denied.
Defendant Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc.'s eight individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), for failure to state a claim, are all denied.
Defendant Al Haramain Islamic Foundation's motion to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), for failure to state a claim, is denied.
Defendant Sanabel Al-Kheer's two individually filed motions to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), are both denied.
Defendant Al Haramain Islamic Foundation's motion to dismiss the complaint, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(5), for insufficiency of service, is denied.
The Federal plaintiffs' motion to strike the renewed motions, is denied.
All motions to dismiss by the other remaining moving defendants herein, are granted.
SO ORDERED.
18 U.S.C. § 2331(1)(A-C).