Iran (the defendant) was served with the two complaints (one from Deborah D. Peterson, Personal Representative of the Estate of James C. Knipple, et al., the other from Joseph and Marie Boulos, Personal Representatives of the Estate of Jeffrey Joseph Boulos) on May 6 and July 17, 2002.[1] Iran denied responsibility for the attack[140] but did not file any response to the claims of the families.[139] On December 18, 2002, Judge Royce C. Lamberth entered defaults against defendants in both cases.[139]