accident occurred . A key issue in the judge 's decision was whether a U.S. court had jurisdiction over a foreign contractor and whether there was a legal basis to find it negligent . Ultimately , Judge William Duffey found that there was . `` The court enters judgment in the amount of $ 4,907,048 to be paid by KGL in a single lump payment , '' the judge wrote in his 12-page decision issued on November 5 . Baragona 's father , Dominic Baragona , a former U.S. Marine , told CNN he is embarrassed his family was forced into a lawsuit to learn details surrounding his son 's death . He also said the court decision is bittersweet : No amount of money will ever bring his son back , but it feels good that a court of law sided with his family . Watch family describe Rocky 's hugs , his Mustang and his character '' `` You feel good for the Rock , '' he said of his boy . `` We 're going to make KGL sweat it a little bit . I mean they 're going to remember Rocky 's name . '' Baragona
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A federal court has ordered a Kuwait-based contractor to pay nearly $ 5 million in damages to the family of a U.S. military officer killed in Iraq -- a rare court decision holding a contracting company accountable for its actions in the war . Lt. Col. Dominic Baragona was the highest-ranking soldier to die in Iraq when he was killed May 19 , 2003 . Army Lt. Col. Dominic `` Rocky '' Baragona was just an hour away from a U.S. base in Kuwait -- ultimately headed home to the United States -- when a tractor-trailer operated by Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company slammed into his Humvee on May 19 , 2003 , killing him instantly . Baragona , a West Point graduate , was 42 years old and the highest-ranking soldier to have died in the war at the time . His family filed a wrongful death suit against KGL . Earlier this month , the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia sided with the family , holding the Kuwait company negligent in Baragona 's death for failing to provide safe passage on the three-lane road where the