The First Trial Under the Antiterrorism Act Against a Cartel in the United States Results in $4,641,337,011 Being Awarded to Claimants

Michael Edward Elsner, of Motley Rice LLC, represented the families of three American women–Rhonita LeBaron, Christina Langford, and Dawna Ray—who were murdered on November 4, 2019 by the Juarez Cartel while traveling in a caravan of women and children between LaMora, Mexico and Colonial LeBaron, Mexico roughly 100 miles from the U.S. Mexico border. The firm brought a civil cause of action against the Cartel in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota. Service of process of the lawsuit was performed by publication in Mexico, and when the Cartel failed to enter an appearance in Court to contest the case, a default was entered. A damages trial was held from February 7, 2022 to February 10, 2022. By special permission from the Mexican government, the lead prosecutor working on the criminal prosecution in Mexico testified to the facts of the attack as they had been determined in the course of the criminal investigation. His testimony included confessions and statements from the perpetrators who had been arrested and confessed and/or cooperated in the investigation. All were members of the Juarez Cartel/La Línea. The trial also took the Court through the emotional and physical toll of the attacks and how the attacks met all of the requirements of an act of international terrorism to permit damages to be awarded to the Plaintiffs under the civil-damages provision of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2333.

On June 24, 2022, the Court entered Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law determining liability as to the Juarez Cartel/La Línea under the Anti-Terrorism Act and awarding damages in the total amount of $4,641,337,011.00 on behalf of 56 distinct claimants. Our firm represents 41 of these family member claimants. It is the first trial under the Antiterrorism Act against a cartel in United States.