Appeals Panel Weighs 9/11 Families' Case Against Saudi Arabia

A three-judge federal appeals panel in Lower Manhattan heard arguments on Oct. 7 over whether families of Sept. 11 victims may pursue their lawsuit accusing Saudi Arabia of responsibility for the al-Qaeda attacks, the Boston Herald reported.

The 90-minute session, streamed on the court's YouTube channel, followed a lower-court ruling that the families can sue under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which Congress approved in 2016. Judge William Nardini told the courtroom the case was difficult and that the panel would take it under advisement.

Saudi Arabia's attorney, Gregory Rapawy, said the kingdom had never backed al-Qaeda against the United States, and its defense leaned on sovereign immunity and New York employment law covering a California-based Saudi employee who the plaintiffs say aided the first two hijackers to enter the country in January 2000.

Brett Eagleson of Connecticut, whose father Bruce died at the World Trade Center, described the kingdom's arguments as "desperation" and said an appellate green light would open discovery into alleged terror cells in Boston, where two of the four hijacked jets left Logan International Airport, as well as in Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey and Florida.

Firms representing thousands of plaintiffs from all 50 states include Motley Rice, Kreindler & Kreindler, Cozen O'Connor and Anderson Kill.

This story was first reported by Boston Herald.