In the wake of the 2000 terrorist attack on the USS Cole, American service members and their families have fought long and hard for justice. Our USS Cole Lawsuit lawyers have stood by victims of this tragedy and have secured historic judgments against state sponsors of terror, and continue to hold bad actors accountable through the U.S. legal system.
If this terrorist attack affected you or a loved one, you may be eligible for compensation through a terrorism lawsuit.
The Carlson Law Firm is a Veteran-Owned and Operated law firm that has been fighting alongside our brothers and sisters in uniform for more than 50 years. We offer free consultations and represent clients nationwide.
Schedule a free consultation today at 800-359-5690.
A service member or contractor assigned to the USS Cole during the October 12, 2000 bombing in Aden, Yemen.
Suffered physical injuries from the bombing. Or lost a loved one in the attack and are pursuing a wrongful death claim
We are helping clients who are a U.S. service member, veteran, or qualifying family member
On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was attacked in Yemen by al-Qaeda operatives in a suicide bombing that killed 17 American sailors and injured many more. While the attack was carried out by terrorists, the broader support that enabled it came from foreign state actors. U.S. law gives victims and their families a path to hold those governments accountable.
The Carlson Law Firm has led that charge through the Iran terrorism lawsuit brought under U.S. law. We’ve helped victims of the USS Cole attack secure two of the largest terrorism-related judgments in U.S. history; including an $807 million judgment and a nearly $2 billion judgment against the Republic of Iran for its role in supporting terrorism.
This isn’t just about symbolism or headlines. These judgments:
Even when a foreign government refuses to pay a judgment, the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST) offers eligible victims and families a path to receive financial compensation. Our team helps clients apply for distributions from the Fund and navigate any claim challenges.
These victories were obtained under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), which allows Americans to sue foreign governments that sponsor terrorism.
On July 29, 2024, United States District Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered payment of nearly $2 billion in a judgment favoring a group of 112 plaintiffs, comprised of Navy Veterans and surviving family members as well as family members of the 17 Navy Sailors who were killed in the terrorist attack on the U.S.S. Cole naval ship that occurred on October 12, 2000 in the Port of Aden, Yemen.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has awarded an $807 million judgment to direct victims and families of the USS Cole bombing—which was attacked while docked in Yemen in 2000—in a brazen act of state-sponsored terrorism facilitated by the nation of Iran.
The Anti-Terrorism Act gives certain veterans and families the right to sue for combat injuries or death.
In 1992, the U.S. passed the comprehensive Anti-Terrorism Act. This broad-reaching act allows U.S. nationals to sue for injuries that were “by reason of an act of international terrorism.”
Under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, victims of terrorism may sue “any person who aids and abets, by knowingly providing substantial assistance, or who conspires with the person who committed such an act of international terrorism.”
18 USC § 2333. Civil Remedies
(a) Action and Jurisdiction – Any national of the United States injured in his or her person, property, or business by reason of an act of intentional terrorism, or his or her estate, survivors, or heirs, may sue therefor in any appropriate district court of the United States and shall recover threefold the damages he or she sustains and the cost of the suit, including attorney’s fees.
In enacting this law, Congress found that:
“(1) international terrorism is a serious and deadly problem that threatens the vital interests of the United States;…
“(6) some foreign terrorist organizations, acting through affiliated groups or individuals, raise significant funds within the United States, or use the United States as a conduit for the receipt of funds raised in other nations; and
“(7) foreign organizations that engage in terrorist activity are so tainted by their criminal conduct that any contribution to such an organization facilitates that conduct.”
“(b) Purpose. – The purpose of this subtitle [subtitle A (Secs.301-303) of title III of Pub. L. 104-132, enacting this section and section 1189 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality] is to provide the Federal Government the fullest possible basis, consistent with the Constitution, to prevent persons within the United States, or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, from providing material support or resources to foreign organizations that engage in terrorist activities.”
If you believe you qualify for combat injury compensation, contact our skilled Combat Injury Attorneys today.
The FSIA establishes the rules for when a foreign state or its entities can be sued in U.S. courts. Generally, the act grants foreign states immunity from U.S. jurisdiction, but in 1996, Congress added a crucial exception: the terrorism exception.
Under this exception, victims of terrorism can sue foreign governments that the U.S. has formally designated as “state sponsors of terrorism” under the following conditions:
This exception opens the door to civil accountability through the FSIA claims process for acts of terror backed by foreign regimes—a door that would otherwise be closed under traditional concepts of foreign sovereign immunity.
The Carlson Law Firm and our co-counsel are pursuing accountability from Iran for the country’s direct ties to terrorism against U.S. service members. We have successfully represented dozens of victims and their families, helping secure billions of dollars.
Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984. U.S. intelligence and court findings have shown that Iran provided extensive financial and logistical support to al-Qaeda, even after the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings and leading up to the 2000 USS Cole bombing.
Iran’s support of al-Qaeda was a substantial factor in the planning and execution of the bombing. Further, Iran’s role in facilitating training, funding, and the safe movement of al-Qaeda operatives enabled the attack. Therefore, under U.S. law, Iran is liable for the injuries, deaths and losses caused by the bombing.
Our attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis – therefore, you do not own us any money unless we successfully resolve your case. To put it another way, with a contingency fee, payment for your attorney’s services is “contingent upon” receiving some amount of compensation. Your attorney will take an agreed-upon percentage of your recovery if you are awarded compensation.
No. The anti-terrorism litigation fund will not affect your VA Disability Compensation. These lawsuits are completely separate from your VA Disability Compensation claim.
Your eligibility for the anti-terrorism litigation fund and VA Disability Compensation have no bearing on each other. They won’t be filed together, they won’t be in the same court, and they will each have different evidentiary requirements.
The Carlson Law Firm’s USS Cole Lawsuit attorneys are some of the most respected advocates for veterans within the legal community. Our team has a commitment to obtaining the maximum level of benefits for our clients in every possible way.
Contact The Carlson Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation for your USS Cole Lawsuit today. Scheduling your free case evaluation with a Terrorism Lawsuit Attorney is your first step to getting the recovery you deserve.
You may qualify for the USS Cole Lawsuit if you:
Medical documentation and service records are typically required to support a claim. Both physical and emotional injuries may qualify. This can include:
The litigation stems from federal court judgments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was found liable under U.S. terrorism laws for its role in supporting the attack.
Deadlines can apply depending on the compensation program or enforcement action involved. It’s important to review your eligibility as soon as possible to determine what options may be available.
If you or a family member were affected by the USS Cole bombing, you may be eligible to join existing litigation or pursue an individual claim under the FSIA against the Islamic Republic of Iran for its material support of terrorism.
You may qualify for the USS Cole Lawsuit if you:
Filing a lawsuit under the FSIA requires legal experience, documentation and a clear connection between the foreign government and the Terrorism Act. Our firm’s USS Cole Lawsuit Lawyers will guide you step-by-step through filing a terrorism lawsuit and support you throughout the entire process.
There are critical court deadlines. It’s critical to speak with a lawyer who understands this unique area of law and can review your specific case.
Speak with a USS Cole Lawsuit attorney at 833-4-Carlson.
