Gates v. Syrian Arab Republic, s. 08–7118

• Citation: 646 F.3d 1
• Decision Date: 20 May 2011
• Docket Number: 09–7108.,Nos. 08–7118,s. 08–7118
• Parties: Francis GATES, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Olin Eugene “Jack” Armstrong, Jr., et al., Appelleesv.SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, et al., Appellants.
• Court: United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (District of Columbia)

646 F.3d 1

Francis GATES, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Olin Eugene “Jack” Armstrong, Jr., et al., Appellees

v.SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, et al., Appellants.

Nos. 08–7118

09–7108.

United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit.

Argued Nov. 19, 2010.Decided May 20, 2011.

Appeals from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (No. 1:06–cv–01500).Ramsey Clark argued the cause for appellants. With him on the briefs was Lawrence W. Schilling.John F. Salter Jr. argued the cause for appellees. With him on the brief were Steven R. Perles and Edward B. MacAllister.Before: ROGERS and BROWN, Circuit Judges, and SILBERMAN, Senior Circuit Judge.Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge BROWN.BROWN, Circuit Judge:

This case arises from gruesome and memorable facts. The issues presented on appeal, however, are more mundane. The families of two American contractors beheaded by terrorists in Iraq sued the Syrian Arab Republic (“Syria”) in federal court. Syria did not respond, and the district court eventually entered default judgment in favor of the contractors' families. Thereafter, Syria finally appeared and filed a Rule 60(b) motion seeking to vacate the default judgment, citing several procedural, constitutional, and jurisdictional defects. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b) (stating the “Grounds for Relief from a Final Judgment, Order, or Proceeding.”) We find none to have merit.

I

Olin Armstrong and Jack Hensley were contractors providing technical and operational assistance to the U.S. military in Iraq. They were kidnapped, held hostage, and finally, while their captors videotaped the event, viciously slaughtered. Video of the executioner, Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, decapitating his victims was circulated on the internet. Al–Zarqawi, and his terrorist organization, al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (known as al-Qaeda in Iraq) claimed responsibility for the murders. See Gates v. Syrian Arab Republic, 580 F.Supp.2d 53, 56, 58 (D.D.C.2008) (citing U.S. Dep't of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Country Reports on Terrorism 2005 220 (2006)).

The families of Hensley and Armstrong (collectively, “the Families”) brought state law claims against Syria, Syrian Military Intelligence, President Bashar al-Assad, and Director of Military Intelligence Asif Shawkat, under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1602, et seq.¹ The Families alleged, in part, that Syria provided material support to both Zarqawi and al-Qaeda, facilitating the deaths of Hensley and Armstrong. Syria did not respond or otherwise enter an appearance in court. As a result, the Clerk of the Court entered a procedural default against Syria and the district court subsequently held a three-day evidentiary hearing to determine whether the Families could establish their claims “by evidence satisfactory to the court.” 28 U.S.C. § 1608(e) (providing protections for foreign states against procedural defaults).

The FSIA provides immunity to foreign states from the jurisdiction of United States courts. 28 U.S.C. § 1604. Sections 1605 through 1607 waive this immunity when, inter alia, the foreign state provides material support for hostage taking or is designated a state sponsor of terrorism. Id. (“[F]oreign state[s] shall be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States and of the States except as provided in sections 1605 to 1607 of this chapter.”). Syria has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979. When the Families initiated this suit, § 1605(a)(7) of the FSIA created a federal “judicial forum for the compensation of victims and the punishment of terrorist states.” Cicippio–Puleo, 353 F.3d at 1033; see also id. at 1027 (“Section 1605(a)(7) [of the FSIA] merely waives the immunity of a foreign state without creating a cause of action against it....”). In addition, § 1606 exempted foreign states from liability for potential punitive damages. See 28 U.S.C. § 1606.

Three weeks after the evidentiary hearing, but before the district court issued its opinion, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (“NDAA”), Pub.L. No. 110–181, 122 Stat. 3 (2008). Section 1083(a) of the NDAA amended the FSIA by repealing § 1605(a)(7), and adding a new provision, § 1605A, in its stead. Unlike its predecessor, § 1605A creates a federal rule of decision against foreign states and provides for punitive damages. See Simon v. Republic of Iraq 529 F.3d 1187, 1190 (D.C.Cir.2008), rev'd on other grounds sub nom., Republic of Iraq v. Beaty, ––– U.S. ––––, 129 S.Ct. 2183, 173 L.Ed.2d 1193 (2009), (noting § 1083(a) of the NDAA also abrogated Cicippio–Puleo, 353 F.3d 1024). In addition, new § 1605A may apply to “pending cases” initially brought under § 1605(a)(7) “on motion made” under NDAA section 1083(c)(2). Pub.L. 110–181, § 1083(c)(2)(A), 122 Stat. at 342–43 (stating that an action brought under § 1605(a)(7) must “be given effect as if the action had originally been filed under § 1605A of title 28, United States Code.”)

In February, 2008, the Families moved to proceed under § 1605A, arguing their federal claim for relief was “the same as the claim for relief previously asserted and served upon Defendants, except for the ministerial substitution by Congress of 1605A in place of 1605(a)(7).” Gates v. Syrian Arab Republic, 646 F.Supp.2d 79, 89 (D.D.C.2009) (quoting Pls.' motion to proceed under new statute). Syria again failed to respond. The district court granted the Families' motion, holding that new service of process was not necessary (“Conversion Order”). Order Granting Motion for Leave to Proceed under Pub.L. 110–181, Feb. 27, 2008, Gates v. Syrian Arab Republic, (No. 06–1500), reprinted at J.A. 245. Then, on September 26, 2008, the district court granted default judgment in favor of the Families, awarding damages in excess of $400 million (“Default Judgment Order”). Gates, 580 F.Supp.2d at 75. In so doing, the district court found service of process perfected against Syria under 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a), which governs service on foreign states. Id. at 64.

Syria appealed the district court's Default Judgment Order, arguing the Families did not effectuate service of process and the district court lacked jurisdiction. Rather than remand the case, this court placed Syria's appeal in abeyance, “pending the district court's decision whether it intends to vacate the default judgment or otherwise grant relief.” See Dist. Ct. Docket No. 64 (citing Hoai v. Vo, 935 F.2d 308, 312 (D.C.Cir.1991)).

Thereafter, Syria filed a motion in the district court seeking relief from judgment under Rule 60(b). Syria asked the district court to set aside its Default Judgment Order because it was void, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(4), and for other reasons justifying relief, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(6). Interpreting its jurisdiction to be limited under Hoai, 935 F.2d at 312, ² the district court denied Syria's motion under Rule 60(b)(4), but indicated it would vacate the Conversion Order and amend its Default Judgment Order if it had jurisdiction to do so. See Gates, 646 F.Supp.2d at 83–84, 91 (“Rule 60(b) Order”). Under this proposed disposition, the Families could proceed under former § 1605(a)(7), which did not provide for punitive damages, rather than under new § 1605A. Id. at 91.

On appeal, Syria makes a multitude of arguments. For example, Syria argues this court lacks jurisdiction because the FSIA conflicts with Article 2 of the U.N. Charter, international laws, and international norms. Syria also argues the case is a non-justiciable political question. These arguments are specious and clearly resolved by this court's prior cases, including some that involved Syria and its counsel. See Wyatt v. Syrian Arab Republic, 266 Fed.Appx. 1 (D.C.Cir.2008); Simon, 529 F.3d 1187. Similarly, Syria argues the FSIA is unconstitutional because future acts of Congress or the President may impair any final judgment in this case in violation of separation of powers principles. [Blue 64–73.] Precedent forecloses this argument as well. Syria's constitutional claim is not ripe because neither Congress nor the President has invalidated, retroactively, a judgment in this case. See Texas v. United States, 523 U.S. 296, 300, 118 S.Ct. 1257, 140 L.Ed.2d 406 (1998) (“[A] claim is not ripe for adjudication if it rests upon ‘contingent future events that may not occur as anticipated, or indeed may not occur at all.’ ”) (quoting Thomas v. Union Carbide Agric. Prods. Co., 473 U.S. 568, 580–81, 105 S.Ct. 3325, 87 L.Ed.2d 409 (1985)). In any event, the FSIA does not vest authority in the President to review the judgments of federal courts. See Plaut v. Spendthrift Farm, Inc., 514 U.S. 211, 218, 115 S.Ct. 1447, 131 L.Ed.2d 328 (1995).

Only two arguments require our attention. Syria argues the district court's Rule 60(b) Order was in error, and its Default Judgment Order void, because Syria never received service of process. Further, Syria contends remand is appropriate to give the district court “opportunity to grant further relief to Syria as the district court indicated it would do,” i.e., vacate the Conversion Order and require the Families to proceed under former § 1605(a)(7), rather than new § 1605A.

II

Section 1608 of the FSIA governs service of process “upon a foreign state.” 28 U.S.C. § 1608. That section states, in pertinent part, that service may be made “by sending a copy of the summons and complaint and a notice of suit, together with a translation of each into the official language of the foreign state, by any form of mail requiring a signed receipt, to be addressed and dispatched by the clerk of the court to the head of the ministry of foreign affairs of the foreign state concerned.” Id. § 1608(a)(3).

Syria does not dispute the Families initiated service through the clerk of the court as required by § 1608(a)(3). Nor does Syria dispute the clerk of court...