November 4, 2025
Willkie has continued to win significant damages on behalf of American servicemembers and civilians killed or wounded in Iraq and their families, securing a further $841 million against Iran for its support of terrorism.
On October 31, 2025, Judge Randolph D. Moss of the District Court for the District of Columbia issued a memorandum opinion in Robert Martino et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 21-1808, finding Iran liable for providing material support to the terrorist organizations responsible for attacks in Iraq. Judge Moss awarded approximately $420.7 million in compensatory damages and $420.7 million in punitive damages to a subset of 36 plaintiffs who had immediate family members wounded or killed in 14 attacks in western Al Anbar Province.
The ruling is part of an ongoing lawsuit that Willkie and co-counsel have brought against Iran on behalf of hundreds of plaintiffs to hold the country liable under the state sponsor of terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). The plaintiffs are eligible to recover portions of their damages awards from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSSTF), among other means.
The damages award is the latest in a succession of victories in the mass action lawsuit. It builds on a separate $1.1 billion judgment Willkie won for a group of 45 plaintiffs in the case. The firm has now secured more than $4 billion in total damages for Gold Star Families and U.S. victims of terrorism in a series of lawsuits against Iran.
The Willkie team is led by partners Michael Gottlieb and Nicholas Reddick, with co-counsel Ryan Sparacino of Sparacino PLLC, and includes associates Nicholas Conlon, Logan Kenney, Erik Holmvik, Lindsay Hemminger, and Trevor Newton, among other associate team members, paralegals, and support staff.
On October 31, 2025, Judge Randolph D. Moss of the District Court for the District of Columbia issued a memorandum opinion in Robert Martino et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 21-1808, finding Iran liable for providing material support to the terrorist organizations responsible for attacks in Iraq. Judge Moss awarded approximately $420.7 million in compensatory damages and $420.7 million in punitive damages to a subset of 36 plaintiffs who had immediate family members wounded or killed in 14 attacks in western Al Anbar Province.
The ruling is part of an ongoing lawsuit that Willkie and co-counsel have brought against Iran on behalf of hundreds of plaintiffs to hold the country liable under the state sponsor of terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). The plaintiffs are eligible to recover portions of their damages awards from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSSTF), among other means.
The damages award is the latest in a succession of victories in the mass action lawsuit. It builds on a separate $1.1 billion judgment Willkie won for a group of 45 plaintiffs in the case. The firm has now secured more than $4 billion in total damages for Gold Star Families and U.S. victims of terrorism in a series of lawsuits against Iran.
The Willkie team is led by partners Michael Gottlieb and Nicholas Reddick, with co-counsel Ryan Sparacino of Sparacino PLLC, and includes associates Nicholas Conlon, Logan Kenney, Erik Holmvik, Lindsay Hemminger, and Trevor Newton, among other associate team members, paralegals, and support staff.
