Butler Snow attorney Jim Letten has been reappointed to serve a second term as Special Master by the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., in the case of Karcher v. Islamic Republic of Iran. Letten previously served as Special Master in 2023 in the matters of Lee v. The Islamic Republic of Iran.
Attorneys involved in the process in Washington, D.C. noted that Letten’s opinions and recommendations of damage awards to U.S. service members and their families for injuries and loss of life to Americans, were both thorough and expeditiously accomplished.
Letten will continue to serve in his second term as Special Master alongside former Butler Snow attorney, Professor Frank Rosenblatt—and will continue to be supported by Butler Snow paralegal Jennifer Thomas, as they carefully review and analyze evidence of injuries, damages (including, in some cases, severe and debilitating, physical and other injuries and death inflicted on U.S. service members) caused by explosive devices designed, built, funded and deployed by the Republic of Iran, which was found liable in United States Court suits.
As neutral Special Master, Letten will retain the task of making recommendations to the presiding Judge regarding damage awards to the plaintiffs, which are supported by evidence in the record—including medical records, expert testimony, bomb construction, physical and emotional efficacy and effects, plaintiff and witness testimony, judicial precedent, and other probative evidence and data.
A member of Butler Snow’s Commercial Litigation Group, Letten consults and provides representation on criminal and regulatory investigations by government agencies, as well as civil fraud cases and international trade and regulatory issues, including the establishment of corporate compliance and integrity programs. He previously served 36 years as a prosecutor (31 years with the United States Department of Justice). Before his retirement at the end of 2012, Letten was the longest-serving United States Attorney in the nation and one of only three U.S. Attorneys appointed to the position by successive presidents from different parties. In all, he spent nearly 12 continuous years as the United States Attorney in New Orleans/Southeast Louisiana. Prior to serving as the ranking federal law enforcement official in the District, Letten had distinguished himself as Organized Crime Strike Force Chief and later First Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Letten received his J.D. from Tulane University and earned his B.A. from the University of New Orleans. He is admitted to practice in Louisiana.
