By 2014, the district court awarded the plaintiffs over $10 billion. Sudan, which had not appeared during the initial lawsuit, appealed the judgment, arguing it did not understand the US civil suit system and did not understand the consequences of not appearing, but also challenged the retroactive nature of the 2008 change to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The appeals court discounted Sudan's argument regarding its lack of understanding, and upheld the lower court's finding that Sudan was liable for the bombings, but ruled that the $4.3 billion of punitive damages could not be applied retroactively.
By 2014, the district court awarded plaintiffs over $10 billion. Sudan, which did not participate initially, appealed the judgment, arguing it misunderstood the US civil litigation system and missed the consequences of its absence. It also challenged the retroactive change to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act in 2008. The appeals court rejected Sudan’s claim about its lack of understanding and upheld the lower court's decision that Sudan was responsible for the bombings, but ruled that $4.3 billion in punitive damages could not be applied retrospectively.