Legal Blog

Six US Citizens Recover 1 million in damages.

Monday, August 20, 2007

An article in the BBC has revealed that six US citizens who sued the American government in 2001 for scientific tests performed on them in 1939 have successfully recovered 1 million dollars in compensation.

The citizens, who are now in their 70's and 80's were orphans and in state care. They were subjected to six months of what the BBC article described as torment by Iowa University researchers.

Researches were examining whether children develop speech impediments because of psychological pressure.

The Plaintiffs allege they were subjected to prolonged harassment and that over the course of their lives they became self-conscious and reluctant to speak.

The Plaintiffs only became aware of the study when in 2001 a California newspaper revealed the details of the study. Following, the publication of the article the University of Iowa made a public apology.

That same year the six Plaintiffs sued seeking $13.5 million in damages alleging the studies, caused them, "psychological and emotional scars."