Attorney General Ken Paxton Continues Fighting for Wounded Veteran Against Military Contractor

Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to advocate for decorated combat veteran Winston Hencely, who was severely injured in a terrorist bombing at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The bombing, which killed five Americans and injured sixteen others, was carried out by a Taliban-affiliated employee negligently hired and supervised by military contractor Fluor Corporation. Despite the Army investigation concluding that Fluor's complacency and lack of supervision were the primary causes of the tragedy, the company has thus far avoided accountability. Attorney General Paxton, along with a multistate coalition, is fighting to hold Fluor accountable and protect the rights of wounded veterans.

Key Takeaways:

• Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading a multistate coalition to support decorated combat veteran Winston Hencely in his lawsuit against Fluor Corporation.
• The lawsuit stems from a terrorist bombing at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, where a Taliban-affiliated employee negligently hired and supervised by Fluor detonated a bomb, killing five Americans and injuring sixteen others.
• An Army investigation concluded that Fluor's complacency and lack of supervision were the primary causes of the tragedy.
• Despite the Army investigation's findings, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals shielded Fluor from accountability, citing the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
• The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, with Attorney General Paxton and other states filing a cert-stage amicus brief advocating for accountability.
• Attorney General Paxton stated, "Our military servicemembers and their families deserve better than a system that gives corporate contractors a free pass."
• The case highlights the need to hold military contractors accountable for their actions and protect the rights of wounded veterans.

Statistics:

• 5 Americans were killed in the terrorist bombing at Bagram Air Base.
• 16 others were injured in the bombing.
• The invested Army concluded that Fluor's complacency and lack of supervision were the primary causes of the tragedy.
• The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals wrongly applied the FTCA to shield Fluor from accountability.
• The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.

Sources:

• Texas Attorney General's Office - News Releases - Attorney General Ken Paxton Continues Fighting for Wounded Veteran Against Military Contractor Whose Negligence Allowed a Taliban-Affiliate to Detonate Bomb on Military Base
• Original source (without date): https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-continues-fighting-wounded-veteran-against-military-contractor-whose