A U.S. federal jury on Tuesday determined that defense contractor CACI International shares responsibility with the U.S. Army for the abuse and torture of detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison, ordering the Virginia-based company to pay $42 million in damages to three Iraqi men who suffered mistreatment at the facility nearly two decades ago.
The landmark verdict followed a prolonged legal battle, with the jury ruling that CACI International, contracted by the U.S. government to provide interrogation services, was liable for the inhumane treatment of detainees held at the notorious prison between 2003 and 2004. The decision represents a rare accountability measure for a private contractor linked to abuses during the Iraq War, marking a pivotal moment in the longstanding case brought forward by former detainees.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit — Suhail Al Shimari, Asaad Zubae, and Salah Al-Ejaili — alleged that they were subjected to extensive physical and psychological abuse while detained at Abu Ghraib. The three men testified that they endured severe mistreatment, including physical beatings, humiliation, sensory deprivation, and other forms of torture. According to the Center for Constitutional Rights, which has supported the case, the ruling recognizes the company’s role in facilitating and participating in these abusive practices.
Tuesday’s verdict emerged after two civil trials in Virginia, with the first held in Reston in April and the second in Alexandria in late October. The jury awarded each plaintiff $3 million in compensatory damages for the suffering they endured, along with $11 million in punitive damages to emphasize accountability, bringing the total award to $42 million.
The case dates back to a lawsuit initially filed in 2008. Since then, the proceedings have navigated complex legal challenges, including questions over jurisdiction and the applicability of U.S. laws to a foreign site of alleged abuse. The lawsuit contended that CACI employees encouraged and participated in the mistreatment of detainees as part of the interrogation process, making the contractor partially responsible for the harms inflicted alongside U.S. military personnel.
The Center for Constitutional Rights hailed the verdict as a step toward justice for victims of wartime torture. “This ruling affirms that corporations can be held accountable for participating in war crimes,” said a statement from the organization, which noted that many victims of similar abuses have not had the opportunity for legal recourse.
The ruling may signal broader implications for private contractors involved in military operations overseas, especially as the U.S. government increasingly relies on contractors for various roles in war zones. CACI International has not yet responded publicly to the verdict, and it remains unclear if the company will appeal the decision.
The Abu Ghraib scandal, which first came to light in 2004, shocked the world and exposed widespread human rights abuses at the prison. Although some U.S. soldiers faced criminal charges over their roles in the mistreatment of detainees, Tuesday’s verdict marks one of the few instances in which a private contractor has been held financially liable for their involvement.
