Federal Judge Rules $20 Million Verdict Against Syria for Torture of US Citizen Captured in 2019

A Washington, D.C.-based law firm has successfully secured a judgment exceeding $20 million against the Syrian Arab Republic on behalf of Sam Goodwin, a St. Louis native who was held captive in Syria's prison system for over two months. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, comes as a result of a civil lawsuit filed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's "state sponsor of terrorism" exception.

Goodwin, who was traveling as part of a quest to visit every country in the world, was detained in Syria in 2019 and spent 63 days in captivity, much of it in solitary confinement within the notorious Military Intelligence Branch 215 facility. He was awarded $20,201,620 in damages, split roughly evenly between compensatory and punitive categories.

Approximately half of the awarded sum is eligible for payment through the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which is financed by proceeds from sanctions and related penalties. However, the actual amount Goodwin will receive depends on fund availability and compensation formulas, meaning payments will likely be distributed over an extended period.

Kirby Behre, lead counsel for Goodwin and member of the Miller & Chevalier law firm, emphasized the broader significance of the case. "Nations that violate international human rights standards must face consequences, and courageous survivors like Sam help ensure the world does not ignore the atrocities perpetrated by the Assad regime," Behre said. "While nothing can completely compensate for Sam's suffering, this represents yet another powerful step forward in the broader effort to confront those responsible for such grave injustices."

Goodwin entered Syria from Iraq, choosing to stay in Qamishli, a city he understood to be under the control of U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Despite his precautions, he was detained by armed men in military uniforms while communicating with his mother via FaceTime. He later recounted being taken to the basement of Military Intelligence Branch 215 and held in solitary confinement for 27 days, with only brief daily interactions when guards brought his food.

According to legal filings and Goodwin's testimony, he was subjected to torture and prolonged interrogations by the Syrian authorities. During one interrogation, officials threatened to hand him over to ISIS if he did not confess to espionage, an accusation he steadfastly denied.

His eventual release was orchestrated by General Abbas Ibrahim, Lebanon’s then top security official, after connections were established through family friends. In the process of securing his freedom, Goodwin's family enlisted the support of numerous agencies, including the FBI, CIA, State Department, special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Vatican envoys, and Middle East experts.

In a statement following the court's decision, Goodwin said, "This judgment is about far more than what happened to me. It's a stand for anyone who has suffered human rights abuses around the world. I hope it gives other victims the courage to speak up and, above all, serves as a warning that such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten."

Miller & Chevalier has been involved in other significant cases against the Syrian government. In 2023, the firm secured a $50 million judgment for Kevin Dawes, another American reportedly subjected to illegal detention and torture. More recently, the law firm filed a lawsuit representing the family of Dr. Majd Kamalmaz, alleging that he was abducted, tortured, and killed after being detained at a government checkpoint in Damascus.

These landmark legal actions underscore ongoing efforts by American families and their advocates to hold the Syrian regime and others designated as state sponsors of terrorism accountable for the mistreatment and abuse of foreign detainees.