Appeals court in NYC will rehear torture case

Court Alerts

A federal appeals court will reconsider its decision to toss out a Canadian engineer's lawsuit over torture he says he endured after being mistaken for an Islamic extremist.

The move by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan was unusual not only because the full circuit assembles for a case only once or twice a year, but because Maher Arar's attorneys had yet to even ask for a full hearing.

The court notified lawyers Wednesday that the full panel of 13 judges will rehear Arar's case, which a three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit dismissed in June. Arguments are scheduled for Dec. 9.

"We never even considered the possibility they would do it before we asked," said Maria LaHood, a Center for Constitutional Rights senior attorney representing Arar. "They certainly decided it was important enough on their own."

The Syrian-born Arar was detained in 2002 after switching planes at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he returned to Canada from vacation. Federal authorities say he had been wrongly listed as an al-Qaida member.

Related listings

  • Manchin, DuPont met over appeal of $196M verdict

    Manchin, DuPont met over appeal of $196M verdict

    Court Alerts 08/14/2008

    Gov. Joe Manchin's office acknowledged Wednesday that he conferred twice with chemical giant DuPont as it planned to appeal a $196 million punitive damage award in a West Virginia pollution case.His office also reviewed a draft friend-of-the-court br...

  • Michigan 'Joker' sentenced to 1 day in jail

    Michigan 'Joker' sentenced to 1 day in jail

    Court Alerts 08/14/2008

    A man accused of trying to steal a large Batman movie poster from a cinema lobby while dressed as the Joker has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of malicious destruction of property.Twenty-year-old Spencer Taylor entered the plea Wednesday in S...

  • No bail for Md. mom accused in starving death

    No bail for Md. mom accused in starving death

    Court Alerts 08/13/2008

    A 21-year-old woman accused of staving her toddler to death while a member of a religious cult was ordered held without bail Tuesday, and her attorney suggested that she was not responsible for her son's slaying.Ria Ramkissoon wore a purple jumpsuit ...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read