Ontario Court awards $107 million damages to Iran terror victims

In a landmark decision announced on Jan. 3, 2022, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice awarded $107 million in damages to the families of six Canadian citizens who perished in the shoot-down of Ukraine Airlines Flight PS752 by the IRGC outside Tehran.

The award follows a liability determination on May 20, 2021, that found the Iranian regime commited an intentional terrorist act in shooting down the civilian airliner.

The claims were brought under the 2012 Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act. According to lawyers representing the plaintiffs, the damages decision “is unprecedented in Canadian law.”

On January 8, 2020, the Islamic Republic of Iran fired two missiles into Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 departing Tehran enroute to Kiev causing the aircraft to crash. Approximately 75 Canadians were killed.

Today’s decision follows from the prior, May 20, 2021, Decision of the Court in which it found that the shooting down of the airplane was an intentional terrorist act perpetrated by Iran and the other defendants named in the Claim, the lawyers wrote.

The action was brought by the law firms of Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP, and Weinman, Arnold LLP, along with the International Center for Human Rights in Canada.

Lead attorney Mark Arnold has brought multiple claims against Iran in Canadian courts.