Hegna v. Islamic Republic of Iran

BACKGROUND

This appeal represents the plaintiffs’ fourth attempt before as many Circuit courts to enforce in part their $375 million judgment against the government of Iran for its role in the death of Charles Hegna, an American diplomat murdered by members of Hezbollah, an organization with links to the government of Iran, during a 1984 airplane hijacking. The Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Circuits have rejected similar appeals by the Hegna family within the past year. See Hegna v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 376 F.3d 226 (4th Cir.2004); Hegna v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 376 F.3d 485 (5th…