Bill Text: NJ SR31 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Declares support for civil lawsuits against sponsors of terrorism in American courts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-23 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [SR31 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-SR31-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Declares support for civil lawsuits against sponsors of terrorism in American courts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution declaring support for civil lawsuits against sponsors of terrorism in American courts.
Whereas, New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District's congressional representative, Congressman Bill Pascrell, has actively advocated that persons should be permitted to file civil lawsuits against foreign sponsors of terrorism in American Courts; and
Whereas, The government of the United States of America, in February 2008 declined to intervene in a civil lawsuit filed against the Palestinian National Authority by an American family member of a terrorism victim in a United States federal court in New York; and
Whereas, The decision of the government of the United States not to intervene in a civil lawsuit filed against a foreign sponsor of terrorism presents the possibility that the government of the United States shall act similarly in future cases, thereby allowing victims of terrorism to recover civil monetary damages against foreign sponsors of terrorism in the United States courts; and
Whereas, Permitting persons to file civil lawsuits against foreign sponsors of terrorism increases the likelihood that the foreign sponsors of terrorism will be held accountable to American victims of terrorism and their families; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Senate declares its support for the position advocated by New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District's congressional representative, Representative Bill Pascrell, that persons should be allowed to file civil lawsuits against sponsors of terrorism in United States courts.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution should be sent to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the United States Senate, the United States Secretary of State, the United States Attorney General and Representative Bill Pascrell of New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District and all members of New Jersey's congressional delegation.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution declares support for New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District Representative Bill Pascrell's stated position that persons should be permitted to file civil lawsuits against foreign sponsors of terrorism in American courts. A United States government decision in February 2008, declining to intervene in a civil lawsuit filed by an American terrorism victim's family against the Palestinian National Authority in a United States federal court, is a commendable position that presents the possibility that American victims can ensure that foreign sponsors of terrorism are held accountable in American courts.
