“Fourth Circuit Affirms $42 Million Jury Verdict in Abu Ghraib Case”, 17 March 2026

…In 2008, some of the detainees sued CACI in the Eastern District of Virginia, bringing 20 causes of action under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) and state tort law.

Over 16 years and five appeals, the causes of action were winnowed to just two ATS claims: conspiracy to commit torture and conspiracy to commit cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment (CIDT). In 2024, a jury found CACI liable on these two claims, awarding each of three plaintiffs $3 million in compensatory damages and $11 million in punitive damages. On March 12, 2026, in Al Shimari v. CACI Premier Technology, Inc., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed in a two-to-one decision…

The Fourth Circuit’s decision represents a remarkable victory for plaintiffs in a hard-fought case. But the fight may not be over. The U.S. Supreme Court has granted cert in Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe to decide whether aiding and abetting claims are actionable under the ATS… Although Al Shimari is distinguishable, factually and legally, what the Supreme Court decides in Cisco may well determine the ultimate outcome in Al Shimari.