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Belfast couple to have day in court

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

The suit, before federal court for the Eastern District in New York, arises from false accusations of terrorist links leveled at the couple, charges that resulted in both Murray and Gould being jailed in Las Vegas in February of last year. The couple were released without charge after spending a week in jail but then faced deportation proceedings.
Since that time the couple, who came to the U.S. as Walsh Visa holders, have won several reprieves from an immigration judge in Las Vegas. The latest allows them to remain in the U.S. until mid-April and additional extensions will be sought by their attorneys in anticipation of a trial of the lawsuit before the end of this year.
“We’re in the discovery phase right now and are on schedule for a trial in November, but a lot can happen between now and then,” Dornan said.
The suit names as defendants Northrop Grumman Information Technology Inc. and its immediate parent company, Logicon Inc. It accuses Northrop/Logicon, collectively Northrop, of negligence, causing personal injuries and breach of contract.
The suit also names Murray and Gould’s previous employer in Las Vegas, Steve Smith. It was accusations leveled by Smith that resulted in Murray and Gould being jailed.
The couple say they told Northrop that Smith did not pay them their work at his Las Vegas hang-gliding company. Northrop administers the Walsh Visa employment program for the U.S. State Department.
In a separate matter, Smith was convicted in a Las Vegas court of abducting a prostitute. He has also been the subject of separate investigations by law enforcement authorities in the Nevada city.
The suit against Northrop demands a jury trial and is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $1 million and punitive or exemplary damages in excess of $100 million.

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