Atban v. Blackwater is a lawsuit brought against Blackwater Worldwide, a private military contractor.[1] It concerns the September 16, 2007, Blackwater Baghdad shootings.
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According to numerous conflicting reports, the shooting started after a small car had failed to comply with an Iraqi police officer's call to stop, the Blackwater guards then fired on the car, possibly believing it to be a suicide bomber. However, a conflicting report filed by Blackwater,[2] the security guards, who were at the time guarding a US State Department convoy, had been fired on first and responded with measured, small arms fire directed specifically at those who had attacked them.[3]
The suit was filed on behalf of a number of Iraqi citizens by the Center for Constitutional Rights and a number of other lawyers alleging that Blackwater had violated US and international law, as well as participating in war crimes and disobeying the Alien Tort Statute.[3]
October 11, 2007 the case was filed in the U.S. District Court of Columbia
November 27, 2007 an amended complaint was filed, adding the families of two other victims.
March 28, 2008 a second amended complaint was filed to join the family of an additional Iraqi who had been killed as well as nine additional injured Iraqi survivors. On April 8, 2008, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss for lack of venue, to which the plaintiffs filed an opposition on April 22, 2008. Judge Walton ordered that this case be consolidated with Estate of Albazzaz, et al. v. Blackwater Lodge and Training Center, Inc. et al. for purposes of pre-trial discovery and briefing.
April 28, 2008 plaintiffs filed a motion to file a third amended complaint in order to include a spoliation claims.
May 7, 2008, defendants filed their opposition to the third motion to amend the complaint, to which the plaintiffs filed a reply on May 19, 2008.
The settlement of the case concluded on January 6, 2010.[4]