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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

Blackwater USA

Abtan v. Blackwater (Sept. 16, 2007 Baghdad Shooting)

Date: 10/11/2007 (Date of Filing)

Misconduct Type: Human Rights

Enforcement Agency: Non-Governmental

Contracting Party: State Dept.

Court Type: Civil

Amount: Undisclosed

Disposition: Settlement

Synopsis: Talib Mutlaq Deewan and the estates of Himoud Saed Abtan, Usama Fadil Abbass and Oday Ismail Ibraheem sued Blackwater for its alleged culpability in the September 16, 2007 firefight in Nisoor Square in Baghdad in which as many as 17 civilians, including Abtan, Abbass and Ibraheem, were killed and as many as 22, including Deewan, were injured. The lawsuit alleged Blackwater violated the federal Alien Tort Statute in committing extrajudicial killing and war crimes, and that the company was liable for assault and battery, wrongful death, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, training and supervision. This and six other lawsuits alleging abuses by Blackwater in Iraq were settled in January 2010. The terms of the settlement are confidential.