U.S. Court Orders $35 Million Damages in Lebanese Case
A federal court issued a default judgment against four Lebanese defendants for fraud, torture, and civil conspiracy.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Financial Crime
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A U.S. district court in Florida has ordered four Lebanese defendants, including former foreign minister Gebran Bassil, to pay $35 million in damages to Elie and Lara Samaha. The judgment stems from allegations that the defendants detained and tortured the couple in Lebanon to force them to drop a U.S. lawsuit.
Why it matters
The lawsuit represents a rare international effort to hold foreign officials accountable in U.S. courts for actions taken abroad. It highlights the escalation of a legal battle that began with a 2017 inheritance dispute and led to the detention of the couple in a military prison.
The U.S. district court issued a default final judgment awarding $35 million to the plaintiffs. This decision follows the dismissal of a previous lawsuit by a Florida court in March 2023 due to jurisdictional issues.
The players
Gebran Bassil
He is a former Lebanese foreign minister who has been under U.S. sanctions since November 2020.
Elie Samaha
He is a U.S.-Lebanese citizen who was held in a military prison for nine days in 2019.
Lara Samaha
She is a U.S. green card holder who was detained for 11 days during the 2019 incident in Lebanon.
The details
The defendants allegedly lured the couple to Beirut under the guise of settlement discussions for an inheritance dispute before detaining them in an underground military prison. During this time, the couple was reportedly tortured and pressured to abandon a 2017 U.S. civil action.
Timeline
The couple began inheritance legal battles in Beirut in 2015.
A lawsuit was filed in the U.S. on November 17, 2017.
The couple was detained in Lebanon in 2019.
Gebran Bassil was placed under U.S. sanctions in November 2020.
A Florida court dismissed the couple's lawsuit in March 2023.
Legal Context
This judgment aligns with broader efforts to leverage U.S. legal precedents to address human rights abuses involving foreign entities. It reflects an evolving legal landscape where civil litigation increasingly challenges the immunity of international actors in the U.S. court system.
This case underscores the potential for individuals to seek legal recourse in U.S. courts for overseas human rights violations. Residents and dual-citizens should be aware of how jurisdictional challenges in international legal disputes can impact the outcomes of civil claims.
The takeaway
This case serves as a warning regarding the complexities of pursuing inheritance and civil claims in foreign jurisdictions. Legal experts note that securing a favorable U.S. judgment is only the first step, as enforcing international awards against foreign officials remains a significant challenge.
Further reading
Learn more about recent rulings in Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by OCCRP.
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