APNewsBreak: Company formerly known as Blackwater settles series of civil lawsuits

AP: Blackwater settles series of civil lawsuits

RALEIGH, N.C. — The security firm formerly known as Blackwater has reached a settlement in a series of federal lawsuits accusing the company of excessive force against Iraqis.

Plaintiffs’ attorney Susan Burke filed a motion in federal court late Wednesday requesting the cases be dismissed. The seven lawsuits accused the company of a pattern of recklessness and illegal activity, citing several killings including a 2007 shooting in Baghdad that left 17 Iraqis dead.

Burke didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday. Blackwater, now known as Xe, released a statement saying the settlement allows the company’s new management to move forward without the costs and distractions of the litigation while providing some compensation to Iraqi families.

The terms of the settlement were not released.