WARMBIER v. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Cite as 356 F.Supp.3d 30 (D.D.C. 2018)
36. Death O95(1)
Factors militating in favor of solatium
award enhancement under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s (FSIA) terrorism
exception generally fall into one of three
categories: evidence establishing especially
close relationship between plaintiff and decedent, particularly in comparison to normal interactions to be expected given familial relationship; medical proof of severe
pain, grief, or suffering on claimant’s behalf; and circumstances surrounding terrorist attack that made suffering particularly more acute or agonizing.
28
U.S.C.A. § 1608(e).
37. Damages O140.7
Death O95(1)
Parents of student who was tortured,
taken as hostage, and ultimately killed by
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
(North Korea) were entitled to solatium
awards of $15 million each under Foreign
Sovereign Immunities Act’s (FSIA) terrorism exception, where North Korea permitted almost no facts regarding student’s
condition to be known during his 17.5
month detention, and North Korea returned student with such extensive brain
damage that his parents witnessed his discomfort, monstrous condition, and death
shortly after his return. 28 U.S.C.A.
§§ 1605A, 1608(e).
38. Damages O87(1)
Punitive damages are awarded not to
compensate victims, but to punish outrageous behavior and deter such outrageous
conduct in future.
39. Damages O91.5(1)
Punitive damages are warranted under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s
1.
Rough Transcript of Hearing (Dec. 19,
2018) (‘‘H’rg Tr. (Rough)’’) at 82 (Cynthia
Warmbier (‘‘C. W.’’) ). Citations to the December 19, 2018 hearing are to a rough draft of
the transcript, since no final transcript is yet
35
(FSIA) terrorism exception where defendants supported, protected, harbored, aided, abetted, enabled, sponsored, conspired
with, and subsidized known terrorist organization whose modus operandi included
targeting, brutalization, and murder of
American citizens and others. 28 U.S.C.A.
§ 1605A.
40. Damages O94.1
In determining appropriate amount of
punitive damages, courts consider (1) character of defendants’ act, (2) nature and
extent of harm to plaintiffs that defendants
caused or intended to cause, (3) need for
deterrence, and (4) defendants’ wealth.
41. Assault and Battery O39
Death O95(1)
Parents and estate of student who was
tortured, taken as hostage, and ultimately
killed by Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea (North Korea) were entitled to punitive damages awards of $150 million each
under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s
(FSIA) terrorism exception. 28 U.S.C.A.
§§ 1605A, 1608(e).
Richard Cullen, Pro Hac Vice, McGuireWoods LLP, Richmond, VA, Emily Rebecca Gantt, Benjamin L. Hatch, McGuireWoods LLP, Norfolk, VA, for Plaintiffs.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
BERYL A. HOWELL, Chief Judge
‘‘What the heck did you do to my kid?’’ 1
This is the anguished question voiced by
the mother of Otto Warmbier when, after
available. The final transcript will be posted
on this case’s docket when available. Discrepancies in page numbers between the rough
and final transcripts may exist.