Two rare and unique legal principles came to the floor recently. The first is a principle called
Sovereign Immunity which means that a state or country's government can not be sued for civil or criminal wrong doing. The concept is an ancient one going back to the days when the king could do no wrong.

The other rare happening occurred when both houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of
Representatives , by two-thirds majority, voted to over-ride the President's veto of a bill that would
allow 9/11 victim's families to sue, if they could prove liability, foreign governments for their losses.

Over-riding a President's veto has historically occurred only 10% of the time that Presidents in the
past have vetoed legislation. Further, in today's society and political climate, bipartisanship may be
rarer still.

It is clear that senators and congressmen feel that the American public believes that countrysponsored
terrorism, and most believe Saudi Arabia is the culprit, was responsible for the horrific 9/11 attacks. This new Bill, despite the President's concerns that it will open America to the same kind of civil action by victims in other countries, will allow a thorough investigation and, perhaps, monetary compensation to those who continue to suffer more than 15 years after their losses.

Let us hope that the law will work and justice will prevail.