Since 1996, American victims of international terrorist acts supported by certain
States designated by the State Department as supporters of terrorism — Cuba, Iran,
Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and until recently, Iraq — have had the option of
bringing suit in federal court to seek monetary damages. Holders of judgments against
these States, however, have encountered difficulties in their efforts to collect, despite
congressional efforts to make blocked (or “frozen”) assets of such States available for
attachment by judgment creditors. A recent court decision invalidating plaintiffs’ cause
of action under the 1996 law raises uncertainties about the future of lawsuits against
terrorist States. This report provides an overview of these issues, including a summary
of a lawsuit against Iran by former hostages, Roeder v. the Islamic Republic of Iran, and a
lawsuit against Iraq by former prisoners of war (POWs), Acree v. the Republic of Iraq, as
well as a brief synopsis of relevant legislative proposals (H.R. 1321, H.R. 865,
H.Con.Res. 93). These issues are covered in greater depth in CRS Report RL31258,
Suits Against Terrorist States By Victims of Terrorism.
