Miller & Chevalier Wins $50 Million Judgment Against Syria on Behalf of Imprisoned American
Washington, DC, January 2, 2024 – Miller & Chevalier Chartered has secured a judgment of nearly $50 million against the Syrian government on behalf of Kevin Dawes, an American citizen who was kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured for nearly four years by the Syrian government.
In his ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras said that "the character of Syria's acts is reprehensible and deserving of the most severe condemnation."
Dawes was confined to a windowless cell and subjected to repeated torture by Syrian Military Intelligence. As a result of his mistreatment, he suffered a concussion, permanent nerve damage, and other physical ailments that, as Judge Contreras wrote, "caused Dawes profound and lasting agony."
Dawes was released in April 2016, in large part due to information provided by a fellow prisoner, British orthopedic surgeon Abbas Khan, who died in custody. A British jury later ruled that Khan was "deliberately and intentionally killed without any legal justification."
Dawes is eligible for payment of the judgment from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST Fund), which was established by and is funded with sanctions proceeds.
"Countries that engage in violations of international human rights law must be held accountable, and brave torture victims like Kevin Dawes bring these atrocities to light for the world to witness. In so doing, Kevin's voice was heard. Kevin continues to struggle in the aftermath of this tragedy." said Kirby Behre, a Member in Miller & Chevalier's Litigation Department who served as lead counsel on Dawes' behalf. "This judgment will be life-changing for him — and will serve as yet another symbol of progress in the ongoing fight to expose and punish the nation-states who commit these heinous crimes."