Terrorism Victims Can Attach Funds Frozen in Wells Fargo Account

Terrorism victims who have judgments against foreign sovereigns may seek funds frozen in a Wells Fargo Bank NA account in South Dakota, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Neither sovereign immunity nor the prior exclusive jurisdiction doctrine barred the suits seeking the $9.98 million in the account, Judge Gregory G. Katsas of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit said.

The victims sought the money in partial satisfaction of default judgments against Iran. The federal government had also sought the money for itself.

Here, Taif Mining Services, a designated sponsor of terrorism, tried to wire the funds to ...