Justice Thomas Leads 6–3 Ruling Letting Soldier Sue Military Contractor
The U.S. Supreme Court just reopened a major legal pathway for injured soldiers—but not without controversy.
In a 6–3 decision, the court ruled that Army Specialist Winston Hencely can sue military contractor Fluor Corp. for injuries he suffered during a 2016 suicide bombing in Afghanistan, according to AP News. Lower courts had blocked the case, citing wartime immunity protections.
The conflict centers on whether private contractors operating in combat zones can be held accountable when their actions—or failures—lead to harm. The Supreme Court said immunity doesn’t apply if the contractor failed to carry out its duties.
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According to The Washington Post, the Army previously found Fluor did not properly supervise the attacker, who was one of its employees.
Dissenting justices warned the ruling could interfere with military decision-making and expose wartime operations to civilian lawsuits.
The decision could reshape how contractors operate alongside U.S. forces and how much legal risk they face going forward.
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