Key facts
- The Supreme Court declined to halt a $655.5 million judgment against the PLO and PA.
- Justice Sonia Sotomayor denied the request to pause the judgment.
- Victims of attacks in Israel can pursue payment from the Palestinian entities.
- The judgment allows plaintiffs to pursue assets of the PLO and PA.
- The lawsuit was brought by American families who were victims of six attacks in Israel between 2001 and 2004.
- A New York jury awarded the families $655.5 million in February 2020.
- The PLO and PA argued they did not directly authorize or know about the specific attacks.
- The PLO and PA argued the plaintiffs did not meet the legal standard for liability.
- Plaintiffs argued the PLO and PA provided material support to militant groups.
The Supreme Court has refused to block a substantial $655.5 million judgment levied against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Justice Sonia Sotomayor, acting on behalf of the Supreme Court, has denied a request to stay the judgment, effectively allowing it to stand for the time being. This decision permits victims of past attacks in Israel to continue their pursuit of financial compensation from the Palestinian entities. The plaintiffs in the case are now able to move forward with efforts to collect the awarded damages from the assets of the PLO and the PA. The original lawsuit was brought by American families who were victims of six deadly attacks in Israel between 2001 and 2004. A New York jury awarded the families $655.5 million in February 2020. The PLO and PA have been seeking to overturn this judgment, arguing that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the Palestinian leadership directly authorized or knew about the specific attacks. They also contend that the judgment is excessive and that the plaintiffs did not meet the legal standard for holding them liable. The plaintiffs, however, argued that the PLO and PA provided material support to the militant groups that carried out the attacks, thereby making them liable. The legal battle has been ongoing for years, with the Palestinian entities attempting to avoid the significant financial penalty.