Iraqi Widow of Former Guard to Iraq's Vice-President Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Xe-Blackwater

Estate of Raheem Khalaf Sa'adoon, Wijdan Moshin Saed,
Sajjad Raheem Khalaf, and Ali Raheem Khalaf

March 19, 2009

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Lawyers
  • Attorney Joseph Oliba, Co-Counsel for the Widow
  • Burke O'Neil, LLC, Co-Counsel for the Widow
  • Joseph Schmitz, Xe-Blackwater's General Counsel
  • Wrongful Death Lawyers


  • Related Links:
  • Blackwater Employees' Indictment
  • Wrongful Death Lawsuits: Elements and Damages


  • The widow of a former security guard for Iraqi Vice-President Adel Abul Mahdi filed a federal lawsuit against Xe-Blackwater (formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide), related companies, Blackwater founder Erik Price, and the Xe-Blackwater contractor accused of killing her husband.

    Her lawsuit alleges that on Christmas Eve in 2006, former Xe-Blackwater employee Andrew Moonen "consumed excessive quantities of alcohol" at a party in Iraq attended by many of his colleagues who "all saw [him] become intoxicated" and leave the party drunk with his company issued Glock" weapon.

    The suit contends that:

    …Moonen, after losing his way and stumbling drunkenly around [the neighborhood] for a short period of time, cam across Raheem Khalaf Sa'adoon on guard duty. Moonen, visibly intoxicated, pulled out his Glock and fired at Raheem Khalaf Sa'adoon, killing him for no reason."

    After he was killed, the suit alleges, the State Department contractor "evaded Iraqi authorities and flew Moonen out of Iraq" back to the U.S., and allegedly "intentionally destroyed evidence of illegal conduct."

    The lawsuit also alleges that Xe-Blackwater violates federal law by hiring mercenaries who are foreign nationals to work for the company to carry out its contract work for the U.S. government.

    You can read the entire lawsuit against Xe and related Blackwater entitites below:

    Note: partial redactions by FindLaw