WARMBIER v. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Cite as 356 F.Supp.3d 30 (D.D.C. 2018)
exception, in light of detainee’s parents’
testimony that senior United States officials told them on several occasions that
their son was being imprisoned in North
Korea because North Korea wanted something from United States, that he would
not be released until they had obtained
that, and that any public criticism from
them would result in punishment, and expert testimony that North Korea used hostage taking as tool of diplomacy, and detained, convicted, and sentenced student to
gain leverage against United States. 28
U.S.C.A. §§ 1605A(a)(1), 1605A(h)(2).
20. International Law O10.33
Essential element of hostage-taking
claim under Foreign Sovereign Immunities
Act’s (FSIA) terrorism exception is that
detention’s intended purpose be to accomplish sort of third-party compulsion described in International Convention
Against the Taking of Hostages, whereby
there is quid pro quo arrangement whereby hostage would be released upon performance or non-performance of any action
by that third party.
28 U.S.C.A.
§ 1605A(h)(2).
21. International Law O10.33
American student’s death shortly after he was returned to United States after
his lengthy detention in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was
‘‘extrajudicial killing,’’ within meaning of
Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s
(FSIA) terrorism exception, despite North
Korea’s claim that brain damage he suffered was result of botulism, in light of
evidence that student sustained brain injury caused by sustained cessation of blood
flow to his brain weeks before he was
returned, that tests indicated that brain
damages was not result of botulism, that
North Korea routinely withheld medical
care from those in its custody, and his
33
death was not authorized by independent
judiciary. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1605A(a)(1).
See publication Words and Phrases
for other judicial constructions and
definitions.
22. Federal Civil Procedure O2421
Upon obtaining default judgment, successful plaintiffs may recover damages by
proving that projected consequences are
reasonably certain—i.e., more likely than
not—to occur, and must prove amount of
damages by reasonable estimate.
23. Federal Civil Procedure O2421
In determining reasonable estimate of
damages in awarding default judgment,
courts may look to expert testimony and
prior awards for comparable injury.
24. Damages O99, 186
Unlike damages for pain and suffering, lost earnings damages under Foreign
Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) are not
hard to quantify, and court will not excuse
plaintiff’s failure to support claim for lost
earnings with competent evidence. 28
U.S.C.A. § 1605A(c).
25. Damages O186
Plaintiff may prove lost earnings damages in action under Foreign Sovereign
Immunities Act (FSIA) based on expert
economist’s
reasoned
analysis.
28
U.S.C.A. § 1605A(c).
26. Assault and Battery O40
Death O95(2)
Evidence O571(10)
Lost earnings award of $6,038,308 was
warranted in action against Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s
(FSIA) terrorism exception to recover
damages for American student’s torture,
hostage taking, and extrajudicial killing,
based on economist’s expert testimony that
such award was likely, in light of student’s