The Law of Sovereign Immunity And Terrorism

James Cooper-Hill is one of a very few lawyers to have conducted successful litigation against terrorist nations on behalf of victims of international terrorism. When his friend became the first hostage held in Baghdad during the 1992 Persian Gulf War, he became engaged in litigation against three terrorist nations: Iraq, Libya, and Sudan. Of the three judgements against Iraq that have been paid to date, two of them are cases in which Cooper-Hill represented the plaintiff. This path-breaking treatise explores the many stages involved when trying to thwart sovereign immunity and obtain damages against terrorist nations. Topics covered include pre-statutory U.S. administrative procedure, pre-1976 statutory exemptions, due process requirements, and collateral international terrorism law. Extensive appendices include the key laws and acts on sovereign immunity and compensation for victims of terrorist acts.

James Cooper-Hill, Visiting Professor, Seattle University School of Law