Hencely v. Fluor Corp — Are Military Contractors Shielded from War-Zone Liability?

<p data-start="97" data-end="763">Full audio of the Supreme Court oral argument in <em data-start="165" data-end="188">Hencely v. Fluor Corp</em> (No. 24-924), argued November 3, 2025. In this case, an Army specialist injured in a Bagram Airfield bombing sues defense contractor Fluor, and the Justices probe whether "uniquely federal interests" and the FTCA's combatant activities exception can preempt state tort claims against military contractors—even when the contractor allegedly breached its contract and violated military orders. The argument goes to the core of contractor immunity, battlefield accountability, and who pays the price when private companies help wage war.</p> <p data-start="765" data-end="914">Check out the official Crime Talk merch at the <strong data-start="812" data-end="832">Crime Talk Store</strong>: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" href= "https://scottreisch.com/crime-talk-store" data-start="834" data-end="911">scottreisch.com/crime-talk-store</a>.</p> <p...