Arab Bank Litigation: Civil trial begins before jury in Brooklyn, N.Y.
On Aug. 14, 2014, opening statements were given in the groundbreaking case Linde v. Arab Bank in Eastern District of New York court before a Brooklyn jury, with Judge Brian Cogan presiding. This is the first civil trial against a bank for material support of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Motley Rice, along with co-counsel, represent the plaintiffs, American victims of terrorist attacks in Israel, who allege Arab Bank financed terrorism from 2000 to 2004 by funneling Hamas martyr payments to families of suicide bombers for acts carried out in Israel. Allegations also include that the international bank laundered some of the funds through its branch on Madison Avenue in the heart of New York City.
Law360’s report about the trial discussed opening statements, including points made by Motley Rice attorney for the plaintiffs Michael Elsner, “We will prove to you that Arab Bank knowingly provided support to Hamas . . . It was a substantial contributing factor to the 24 attacks Hamas committed.”
“The bank’s own files listed the cause of death of one of the ‘martyrs’ whose family received a payment as ‘car bomb.’ That’s not a routine transaction,” said Elsner in opening statements as reported by Alison Frankel for Reuters.
Read more about this litigation.
Follow the trial though media coverage:
Oct. 2, 2014: The Philadelphia Daily News - DN Editorial: The greening of the 'war'
Sept. 29, 2014: Jewish and Israel News - After Arab Bank verdict, don't lose sight of the human impact of terror
Sept. 23, 2014: International Business Times – Arab Bank Verdict Comes Amid Tougher Rules For Foreign Banks
Sept. 23, 2014: Bloomberg – Arab Bank Found Liable for Hamas Terrorist Attacks
Sept. 23, 2014: Civil Justice Magazine – Arab Bank Held Responsible for Financing Terrorists
Sept. 23, 2014: International Business Times – Arab Bank Liable Over Hamas Attacks
Sept. 22, 2014: New York Times – Arab Bank Liable for Supporting Terrorist Efforts, Jury Finds
Sept. 22, 2014: Reuters – Did U.S. State Department hide document to protect Arab Bank?
Sept. 19, 2014: Reuters – Why the Arab Bank terror-finance trial matters
Sept. 3, 2014: Reuters – Can U.S. terror-financing litigation curtail terrorism?
Aug. 28, 2014: Law360 – Ex-Israel official says Arab Bank was lender for Hamas heads
Aug. 21, 2014: New York Times – At Arab Bank's terrorism trial, victim recalls seeing suicide bomber's body
Aug. 21, 2014: The Daily Signal – Paycheck for terrorism: $5,300 for suicide attack
Aug. 19, 2014: Law360 – Victims' Expert Plays Down Terror Lists At Arab Bank Trial
Aug. 17, 2014: The AmLaw Litigation Daily – The Global Lawyer: Hamas on Trial
Aug. 15, 2014: Jerusalem Post – Terror finance trial plaintiffs: Arab Bank records show funds were transferred to Hamas
Aug. 15, 2014: Bloomberg – Arab Bank accused of turning blind eye to terror funding
Aug. 14, 2014: Associated Press – US victims’ lawyer: Arab Bank financed terrorists
Aug. 14, 2014: Reuters – Column-Terror victims: Arab Bank not “routine”: Frankel
Aug. 14, 2014: CBS Local New York – Victims of Hamas suicide bombings sue Arab Bank for allegedly funding terrorism
Aug. 14, 2014: New York Times – Hamas transactions got through in error, bank says
Aug. 13, 2014: New York Times – Terrorism trial of Mideast bank worries the financial world