Bomb Victims And Families Awarded $123 Million

By Elizabeth Saloom, September 23, 2003

Americans killed in the 1983 U.S. Embassy attack in Beirut, and their family members, were recently awarded over $123 million in compensatory damages by a federal judge. The civil case-Dammarell, et al. v. Iran, U.S. Dist Ct for D.C., No. 01-2224-had more than 80 plaintiffs who were either personally injured or were family members of those injured or killed in the bombing.

It was the first large-scale attack on an American embassy. The explosion killed 17 U.S. citizens. The plaintiffs claimed that the Iranian government and its Ministry of Intelligence and Security were responsible for what happened by providing arms, training, other supplies and financial support to the perpetrators.

On April 18, 1983, a driver working for the terrorist group Hezbollah crashed a vehicle, which carried hundreds of pounds of explosives, into the embassy's main entrance in Beirut. The vehicle exploded and seven floors in the center section of the building collapsed.

Parts of the embassy where federal employees worked were completely destroyed: the Marine security post, the cafeteria, the U.S. Information Service (USIS) library, and the personnel and consular sections.

More than 60 people died, including 17 Americans, and more than 100 were injured. Most of the plaintiffs received over $1 million.

Of the injured workers at the embassy, Anne Dammarell was thrown against the cafeteria wall by the blast's force. Daniel Pellegrino worked in the Defense Attache's Office at the embassy, and received cuts to his head, face and hands and had glass embedded in his skin.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included the mother, father, two sisters and brother of a Marine security guard killed in the bombing, Robert McMaugh. Others were the wife and five children of another man who died, Robert Ames. Ames had been visiting the embassy that day on official business for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Also bringing suit were the wife and three children of William McIntyre, who was eating lunch in the cafeteria when the embassy was attacked and suffered fatal injuries. Testifying at the hearing on the suit was Dr. Larry Pastor, an authority in the effects of disasters and post-traumatic stress disorder. He said the families of victims as well as those who were injured might suffer from the disorder, in addition to survivor's guilt. Survivor's guilt involves questioning why certain individuals lived through a life-threatening event and what they should do with the rest of their lives. They may also wonder how much control they can have over what happens in the future. These questions can affect a person's mood, behavior and later choices, Pastor said.