The Nation - News from April 24, 1987

Lawyers representing Bikini islanders and other natives of the Marshall Islands in their suit for damages caused by U.S. nuclear testing in the South Pacific claimed a major victory when a federal judge rejected Justice Department assertions that the Marshall Islands should bear liability. Jonathan M. Weisgall, attorney for 1,400 Bikini atoll claimants, said “we’ve gone 70 yards down the field.” U.S. Court of Claims Judge Kenneth R. Harkins asked for further arguments on a final issue--whether Congress in ratifying the islands’ independence two years ago barred review of the claims by U.S. courts.