A federal jury on Tuesday ordered a US defense contractor, CACI Premier Technology Inc., to pay $42 million in damages to three Iraqi men who were tortured at the Abu Ghraib prison, according to their lawyers.

The company was found liable for its role in the abuse of the three men in 2003 and 2004 at the infamous prison, following a lengthy trial, the Center for Constitutional Rights reported.

The center stated that each of the plaintiffs—Suhail Al Shimari, a middle school principal; Asa'ad Zuba'e, a fruit vendor; and Salah Al-Ejaili, a journalist—was awarded $14 million in damages. The three men filed a lawsuit against CACI, a private company based in Arlington, Virginia, in 2008.

Abu Ghraib prison, located west of Baghdad, became a powerful symbol of the horrors of the US occupation of Iraq after evidence surfaced of detainee abuse by US soldiers at the facility.

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According to the lawsuit, most of the abuse occurred in late 2003, when CACI employees were working at the prison. The company's civilian employees were accused of encouraging US soldiers to abuse detainees in preparation for interrogation.

Criminal charges were filed against 11 low-ranking guards, including former Army Reserve specialist Lynndie England, who was photographed smiling beside naked detainees.

The case against CACI was brought under the Alien Tort Statute, a section of US law allowing non-US citizens to file lawsuits in US courts for human rights violations outside the United States.

Case against CACI approved, 'most shameful chapter of our [US] history'

CACI argued that much of the alleged abuse was approved by then-US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and was incorporated into the rules of engagement by military commanders at the prison.

"Today is a big day for me and justice," Al-Ejaili said in a statement, adding, "This victory is a shining light for everyone who has been oppressed and a strong warning to any company or contractor practicing different forms of torture and abuse."

Katherine Gallagher, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, praised the jury's verdict, stating it "makes clear CACI's role in this shameful chapter of our history."

"Private military and security contractors are put on notice that they can and will be held accountable when they breach the most fundamental international law protections -- like the prohibition against torture," Gallagher said.

"For 20 years, CACI has refused to take responsibility for its role in torture at Abu Ghraib."

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