The reports are that this was a default judgment. Iran didn't defend the case, so the judge felt that judgment was appropriate.
However, this judge also ruled just last fall that Saudi Arabia cannot be liable for the same claim due to the doctrine of sovereign immunity. The mystery is how the judge concluded that a case against Iran could go forward at all, given the clear precedent of his own decision.
Once the judge made the ruling in the case against Saudi Arabia, an attorney bringing a identical suit against another sovereign country risks falling into the category of filing a frivolous claim, and being subject to summary dismissal plus sanctions.
The reports are that this was a default judgment. Iran didn't defend the case, so the judge felt that judgment was appropriate.
However, this judge also ruled just last fall that Saudi Arabia cannot be liable for the same claim due to the doctrine of sovereign immunity. The mystery is how the judge concluded that a case against Iran could go forward at all, given the clear precedent of his own decision.
Once the judge made the ruling in the case against Saudi Arabia, an attorney bringing a identical suit against another sovereign country risks falling into the category of filing a frivolous claim, and being subject to summary dismissal plus sanctions.