Anderson Kill & Olick Comments on Second Circuit Decision Denying Right of the Family of John P. O’Neill and Other Victims of 9/11 to Pursue Case Against Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 Statement from Jerry S. Goldman of Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., counsel to

                     the estate of John P. O'Neill, Sr.



    NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /EMWNews/ -- As counsel to the estate of John P.

O'Neill, Sr., we are disappointed with today's decision by the panel of

judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in John

P. O'Neill, Sr. et al. v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, et al., to the effect

that Americans harmed or killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11,

2001 do not have standing to sue the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.



    While acknowledging that the plaintiffs have pled substantial

information linking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to certain purported

charitable organizations, and demonstrating their role in facilitating the

activities of Al Qaeda around the world, the panel utilized a unique and

previously unsupported rationale for denying Americans the opportunity to

use US Courts to seek redress for the harms that they suffered as a result

of the 9/11 attacks.



    Under the Court's rationale, were New Yorkers to be side-swiped by a

car driven by an employee of the Saudi embassy, they could sue for the

bumps and bruises that they suffered and the damage to their vehicle, yet

the nearly 3,000 families of those innocents who were brutally killed in

lower Manhattan, rural Pennsylvania and the Pentagon can not pursue their

claims. Additionally, those who plan, conspire and provide support for

terrorists, from havens abroad, cannot be held accountable for their

actions in our Courts, according to today's ruling.



    We believe that the Court was wrong in its interpretation of the law.

On behalf of the family of John O'Neill, the former FBI agent who spent his

career fighting terrorism, and died on 9/11 while helping evacuate the

World Trade Center, we intend to continue to take such steps as are

appropriate to help vindicate the rights of the victims.



    Anderson Kill & Olick proudly represents the Estate of John P. O'Neill,

the plaintiff and putative class representative in Estate of John P.

O'Neill, Sr. et al. v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, et al., and Estate of John

P. O'Neill, Sr. et. al. v. Al Baraka Investment and Development Corp., et

al, part of the consolidated appeals in today's decision.

    About Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C.



    Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C. practices law in the areas of Insurance

Recovery, Commercial Litigation, Corporate & Securities, Employment & Labor

Law, Real Estate, Tax, Trusts & Estates, and Bankruptcy. The firm's senior

attorneys maintain national and international practices from offices in New

York City, Newark, NJ, Philadelphia, PA and Washington, D.C. For more

information, please visit http://www.andersonkill.com






    Contact:

    Andrew Sprung

    646-792-3739

    [email protected]