Alejandre v. Republic of Cuba and the Cuban Air Force

Abstract

State immunity — Jurisdictional immunity — Subject-matter jurisdiction — Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act 1976 (“FSIA”) — Exceptions — 1996 amendment to FSIA creating State-sponsored terrorism exception to immunity, codified at 28 USCA Section 1605(a)(7) — Whether requirements of Section 1605(a)(7) satisfied — Whether applying retroactively — Whether United States court having jurisdiction over Cuba and its political subdivisions

State responsibility — Imputability — Acts of terrorism — Cuban Air Force killing three United States citizens in civilian aircraft in unprovoked attack — Whether Cuban Air Force agent of Cuba — Whether Cuba responsible for extrajudicial killings — Whether Cuban Air Force liable under Civil Liability for Acts of State Sponsored Terrorism Act 1996 — Cuba’s liability — Theory of respondeat superior

Air — Cuban Air Force shooting down unarmed civilian aircraft — Unprovoked attack violating international norms — Norms codified in various international instruments — Convention on International Civil Aviation — International community condemning Cuba’s excessive use of force

Sea — Territorial sea — International law allowing twelve-mile territorial sea — United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 — Humanitarian mission over international waters — Civilian planes shot down over international waters — Act of terrorism occurring outside of Cuban territory

Sources of international law — Customary international law — Jus cogens — Acts of terrorism — Ban upon extrajudicial killing rising to level of jus cogens — Jus cogens norms non-derogable and peremptory — Highest status within customary international law — Inability to preempt by treaty — International law norm so fundamental that binding on all members of world community

Damages — Compensatory damages — Punitive damages — Civil Liability for Acts of State Sponsored Terrorism Act 1996 — Whether applying retroactively — Appropriate amount of punitive damages — Lack of precedent — Purpose of punitive damages — Punishment of reprehensible act — Deterrent effect — The law of the United States of America