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U.S. pays $3.2 million in settlement over time Alan Gross spent in a Cuban prison U.S. pays $3.2 million in settlement over time Alan Gross spent in a Cuban prison
(about 3 hours later)
Alan Gross, the American recently freed from a Cuban prison where he had been held for five years, will receive much of a $3.2 million settlement his employer has reached with the U.S. Agency for International Development, an official said Wednesday.Alan Gross, the American recently freed from a Cuban prison where he had been held for five years, will receive much of a $3.2 million settlement his employer has reached with the U.S. Agency for International Development, an official said Wednesday.
USAID early this week finalized an agreement with Development Alternatives (DAI), of Bethesda, Md., the company that Gross was working for in Cuba when he was arrested in 2009. A statement from the agency said that the settlement had been agreed on in principle in November. Early this week, USAID finalized an agreement with Development Alternatives (DAI), of Bethesda, Md., the company that Gross was working for in Cuba when he was arrested in 2009. A statement from the agency said that the settlement had been agreed on in principle in November.
Gross was released Dec. 17 as part of negotiations with Cuba to restore diplomatic relations that were severed in 1961 as relations deteriorated with the revolutionary government of Fidel Castro.Gross was released Dec. 17 as part of negotiations with Cuba to restore diplomatic relations that were severed in 1961 as relations deteriorated with the revolutionary government of Fidel Castro.
Gross was sent to the island as part of a USAID program to establish satellite Internet access for the relatively small Jewish community there. The Cuban government considered Gross, and the program, subversive, it and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.Gross was sent to the island as part of a USAID program to establish satellite Internet access for the relatively small Jewish community there. The Cuban government considered Gross, and the program, subversive, it and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
A USAID official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the settlement, said its timing was coincidental and not connected to the 18 months of negotiations that led to Gross being released. The United States had insisted that he be freed before agreeing to move toward normalizing relations.A USAID official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the settlement, said its timing was coincidental and not connected to the 18 months of negotiations that led to Gross being released. The United States had insisted that he be freed before agreeing to move toward normalizing relations.
DAI, his employer, initially sought as much as $7 million from USAID when it made a claim in April before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals to be reimbursed for costs related to Gross’s arrest, the official said. The case went to a mediator in a series of meetings through the spring and summer, before they reached the settlement that involved no admission of guilt by either party.DAI, his employer, initially sought as much as $7 million from USAID when it made a claim in April before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals to be reimbursed for costs related to Gross’s arrest, the official said. The case went to a mediator in a series of meetings through the spring and summer, before they reached the settlement that involved no admission of guilt by either party.
The agreement was finalized and signed at 8:30 p.m. Monday, the official said.The agreement was finalized and signed at 8:30 p.m. Monday, the official said.
Much, if not all, of the $3.2 million USAID agreed to pay DAI is expected to go to Gross, the official said. A DAI spokesman declined to comment, and Gross’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.Much, if not all, of the $3.2 million USAID agreed to pay DAI is expected to go to Gross, the official said. A DAI spokesman declined to comment, and Gross’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
While Gross was still in prison, he and his wife, Judy, filed a $60 million lawsuit against the U.S. government and DAI in 2012 alleging negligence because they had failed to prepare him for the dangerous assignment. They settled with his employer, and a U.S. district court dismissed the Grosses’ claim against the government, a ruling that was upheld last month. The courts ruled that the federal government is immune from claims for damages from events that happen in a foreign country. In 2012, while Gross was still in prison, he and his wife, Judy, filed a $60 million lawsuit against the U.S. government and DAI alleging negligence because they had failed to prepare him for the dangerous assignment. They settled with his employer, and a U.S. district court dismissed the Grosses’ claim against the government, a ruling that was upheld last month. The courts ruled that the federal government is immune from claims for damages from events that happen in a foreign country.