A former hostage sues Iran, alleging lax security

February 4, 1981

In what is believed to be the first lawsuit by one of the former American hostages, Gregory Allen Persinger, a Marine Corps sergeant, sued the Iranian government seeking $420,000 in damages. Sergeant Persinger and his family charged that Iran's security personnel made no attempt to fight off the militants Nov. 4, 1979, or to rescue the Americans held host age.