Taylor v. Islamic Republic of Iran

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ROYCE C. LAMBERTH, Chief Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

This case arises out of the horrific bombing of the United States Marine Corp barracks in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983. The attack destroyed the facility, killing 241 servicemen and leaving scores wounded. Plaintiffs are family members of eight servicemen killed in the explosion, and they bring this action under the “state-sponsored terrorism” exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1330, 1602 et seq., which was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (“NDAA”).…