A Jewish man injured in a February 2002 terrorist attack could get up to $48 million after a federal jury awarded damages Wednesday in his lawsuit claiming the attack was backed by the Palestinian Authority and PLO.
After the Palestinian defendants defaulted by not defending themselves, a federal jury heard evidence this week in the case and returned a verdict of $16 million.
But under a law permitting U.S. citizens to sue organizations involved in overseas terrorism, that amount will likely be tripled to $48 million. U.S. Magistrate Judge William C. Turnoff asked attorneys in the case to file a proposed judgment order taking the higher amount into account.
The man who filed the lawsuit, Moshe Saperstein, has dual U.S. and Israeli citizenship. He claimed that the Palestinian Authority, which governs the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, and the PLO were complicit in the attack against him.
According to court documents, Saperstein was attacked by gunmen who sprayed his car with AK-47 rounds, wounding him in the hand. Saperstein attempted to run down one of the attackers with his car.
An Israeli citizen traveling in a separate car, lawyer Ahuva Amergi, died in the attack, as did two Israeli soldiers who responded to the gunfire. One of the gunman also was killed and two were apprehended, with the attack ultimately blamed on the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
“Justice is served,” said Saperstein’s wife, Rachel Saperstein. “Now, the fight begins.”
The Sapersteins’ attorney, Robert Josefsberg, said he will work to identify potential Palestinian assets in the United States, Israel and elsewhere to satisfy the judgment.
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The Sapersteins are personal friends who went on aliyah with the blessings of Reb Moshe ztl”, leaving the Lower East Side over 35 years ago. They were expelled from their home in Nvei Daklim last summer, where Moshe was involved with the community and Rachel was director of English studies in the girls Ulpana, and ran the musical program for Gush Katif. They presently live in Nitzan, where Rachel organized the tzedakah fund called, “Operation Dignity”, which pays for brissim, music lessons, flowers for shabbos and many other personal touches to bring dignity to the residents. Moshe Saperstein has spoken about the miracles that he has experienced, starting in the Yom Kippur war (where he was severly injured) and continuing till today. When he spoke at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe in Queens, the talmidim and rebbeim, were so impressed with his emunah and bitachon. We wish them well, amen!
they can get on line with all the others who won judgments and the state dept. doesn’t let them collect
I WANT TO SEE HIM TRY AND COLLECT
IY”H he will get at least some money.