The Supreme Court cleared the way for a soldier injured in an Afghanistan bombing to sue Fluor Corporation, creating new liability risks for defense contractors. In a 6-3 decision with an unusual alliance of liberal justices joining Justice Thomas, the court overturned lower court rulings that had blocked the lawsuit.

Specialist Winston Hencely suffered severe injuries when a worker hired through a Fluor subcontractor detonated a suicide vest at Bagram Airfield in 2016. The contractor argued state injury laws "entirely out of place on the battlefield," while the Trump administration supported blocking the suit to protect military decision-making.

The ruling significantly expands contractor liability in war zones, potentially exposing defense firms to billions in legal claims. Military contractors may now face increased scrutiny over vetting procedures and work site security, with tens of thousands of similar cases potentially emerging from Afghanistan and Iraq deployments.