Supreme Court Revives Veteran's Suit Against Contractor

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Wednesday to allow a disabled Army veteran's lawsuit against a military contractor to proceed, rejecting arguments that wartime activities shield companies from state-law claims of negligence.

The decision revives a case brought by retired Army Specialist Winston Tyler Hencely, who was severely injured in a 2016 suicide bombing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. On Veterans Day that year, Hencely, then 20 years old, confronted Ahmad Nayeb, an Afghan national employed by Fluor Corporation at a vehicle maintenance yard on the base. Nayeb, later identified as a Taliban operative, detonated a suicide vest during the encounter, killing five people and wounding more than a dozen others. Hencely suffered a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, and permanent disabilities, including loss of full use of his left arm, hand, and the left side of his face. He now experiences chronic pain, cognitive disorders, memory loss, seizures, and anxiety, according to court documents and his legal team.

An Army investigation concluded that Hencely's quick intervention likely prevented a larger attack but faulted Fluor for negligent supervision of Nayeb. The report...