Billy Corriher
David Vance – a Navy veteran – was working for an Iraqi security company in 2006. He began to suspect his employer of corruption. Vance and fellow whistleblower Nathan Ertel gave evidence to the FBI, but their employer became suspicious of their efforts and effectively detained them. When they were transferred to the custody of U.S. troops, the men thought that they were being rescued. They claim that instead they were detained on suspicion of aiding the enemy—and tortured for weeks.
Last week, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals allowed Vance and Ertel’s lawsuit against former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to proceed. Their suit alleges they were “detained incommunicado, in solitary confinement, and subjected to physical and psychological torture . . . .” The plaintiffs allege they were subjected to extremely cold temperatures and physical abuse, and deprived of sleep, food, and necessary medical care. Neither was charged with a crime. The men filed a Bivens claim against Rumsfeld and others. The Seventh Circuit affirmed that the plaintiffs had sufficiently pled Rumsfeld’s personal responsibility and affirmed the denial of qualified immunity. [Read more…] about Holding Someone Accountable for Torture