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30100: Blanchet (news) [Fwd: JUSTICE IN MIAMI! HAITIAN COLONEL ORDERED TO PAY $4.3 MILLION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES] (fwd)
From: Max Blanchet <maxblanchet@worldnet.att.net>
Dear Friends of CJA,
We are pleased to announce that on Friday, after a four day trial, a
federal jury in Miami found Colonel Carl Dorélien, former member of
the Haitian High Command, liable for torture, extrajudicial killing,
arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity suffered by
plaintiffs Lexiuste Cajuste, Marie Jeanne Jean and Ms. Jean’s two
young children. Colonel Dorélien was ordered to pay a total of $4.3
million to the plaintiffs in compensatory and punitive damages.
Special congratulations and thanks to our heroic clients and their
families; the Haitian community of Miami; co-counsel Dwayne
Williams, Leon Fresco, Stephen Hanlon and Joyce Dooley-Rodriguez of
Holland & Knight,
LLP; co-counsel John Thornton; witnesses Colonel Jose Luis Garcia,
Dr. Karen Burns, Dr. Robert Shannon, Brian Concannon and Mario
Joseph; CJA Legal Interns Jeff Graham, Christine Keller and Alicia
Adornato; CJA assistant in Haiti and at trial, Daniel Tillias;
therapist Sandra Zakowski; interpreters CreoleTrans and Francis
Icaza; and, of course, CJA attorneys Matt Eisenbrandt and Moira
Feeney. Below is a copy of the press release that was issued late
Friday.
This case represents the first time that a U.S. jury has held a
former member of the Haitian military responsible for the widespread
human rights abuses that were committed by the military against the
civilian population during the dictatorship that was in power from
1991 through 1994.
All the best,
Pamela Merchant
Executive Director
PS: CJA relies on contributions from individuals like you to
continue our work. Please consider making a donation today at
http://www.cja.org/donate/donate.shtml
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___________________________________________________**
**
**
**For Immediate Release**
**February 23, 2007**
**
**Contacts:**
**Center for Justice & Accountability**
**Moira Feeney, Staff Attorney, mfeeney@cja.org
<ailto:mfeeney@cja.org%22>, (415) 544-0444 x302**
**Pamela Merchant, Executive Director, pmerchant@cja.org
<ailto:pmerchant@cja.org%22>, (415) 544-0444 x307**
**
**Holland & Knight LLP**
**Susan M. Bass, Marketing Communications Manager for Holland &
Knight LLP susan.bass@hklaw.com <ailto:susan.bass@hklaw.com%22>,
(813) 769-4326**
**
*
HAITIAN COLONEL AND MEMBER OF THE HIGH COMMAND ORDERED TO PAY
$4.3 MILLION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
*(Miami, Florida, February 23, 2007). A federal jury in Miami found
Colonel Carl Dorélien, a former member of the Haitian Military’s
High Command, liable for torture, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary
detention and crimes against humanity suffered by plaintiffs
Lexiuste Cajuste, Marie Jeanne Jean and her two young children.
Colonel Dorélien was ordered to pay a total of $4.3 million to the
plaintiffs in compensatory and punitive damages.**
**
**Lexiuste Cajuste was arbitrarily detained and severely tortured by
Haitian military forces under Dorelien’s command because of his role
as a union organizer and pro-democracy activist. Miraculously, he
survived the beatings but, fourteen years after the ordeal, still
suffers severe physical disabilities relating to his torture. Upon
learning of the jury’s verdict in his favor Cajuste stated, “Today I
have finally found justice, but I am only one person amongst an
entire population who suffered abuses. My wish is to see that all
the people of Haiti receive justice.” Cajuste went on to say,
“Although today’s judgment was rendered against Colonel Dorélien, I
see this is as a judgment against the entire armed forces of Haiti
under the military dictatorship. This is a wonderful day for justice
for me and my family and for the Haitian people.”**
**
**Marie Jeanne Jean lost her husband Michel Pierre during the
massacre by the Haitian military against the citizens of the
Raboteau neighborhood in the seaside city of Gonaives. Raboteau was
known for being a stronghold of pro-democracy activism. The Raboteau
massacre was one of the worst atrocities committed against the
civilian population in Haiti while Dorélien was part of the High
Command. She brought this suit on behalf of herself and her two
minor children. “Today is a proud and happy day. This judgment is
not just for me and my family, but for all of the many victims of
the Raboteau Massacre. It is in their name that I am here in Miami
today,” said Marie Jean about the jury’s verdict.**
**
**Colonel Dorélien was a member of the High Command of the Haitian
Armed Forces during the military dictatorship in Haiti from 1991 to
1994. Dorélien’s presence in the U.S. became widely known after he
won $3.2 million in the Florida state lottery in 1997. Dorélien,
along with many other members of the Haitian military, fled to the
U.S. where they lived with impunity. This case represents the first
time that a U.S. jury has held a former member of the Haitian
military responsible for the widespread human rights abuses that
were committed by the military against the civilian population.**
**
**Matt Eisenbrandt, CJA Legal Director and member of the trial team
said, “It is an honor to represent Marie Jean and Lexiuste Cajuste,
their courage is an inspiration. Justice has been served.”**
**
**The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Justice and
Accountability (CJA) and Holland & Knight. CJA is a San
Francisco-based human rights organization that works to end impunity
by bringing to justice perpetrators of human rights abuses,
especially those who live in or visit the United States.
**www.cja.org*
<ttp://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=g6qfc6bab.0.6sc8kwbab.z5aocvbab.2900&ts=S0234&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cja.org%22>*.
Holland & Knight is among the world's 15 largest law firms,
providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and
governmental law. **www.hklaw.com*
<ttp://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=g6qfc6bab.0.cww7v7bab.z5aocvbab.2900&ts=S0234&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hklaw.com%22>*.**
**
**For more information and background on the case, please visit
**www.cja.org*
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**
**
**Center for Justice and Accountability **
**
**email: **center4justice@cja.org* <ailto:center4justice@cja.org%22>* **
**phone: 415-544-0444 **
**web: **http://www.cja.org*
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688 | San Francisco | CA | 94102** **
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