Gross suit against U.S. dismissed

By Jessica Gresko

From The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by an American imprisoned in Cuba against the U.S. government, for whom he was working when he was arrested.

Judge James Boasberg wrote Tuesday in an opinion dismissing the case that federal law bars lawsuits against the government based on injuries suffered in foreign countries.

The lawsuit was filed last year by Alan Gross. He was working for the U.S. Agency for International Development and its contractor Development Alternatives Inc. when he was arrested in 2009.

Gross had been working to bring internet access to the Communist island and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his work.

The lawsuit said he wasn’t prepared for his job’s risks.

Gross settled with Bethesda, Md.-based DAI for an undisclosed amount earlier this month.