A federal jury in New York has issued a nearly $21 million verdict against France's largest bank for giving the Sudanese government access to the U.S. financial system as it engaged in atrocities two decades ago.

The woman and two men who obtained the verdict against BNP Paribas S.A. are U.S. citizens who left Sudan after being displaced, losing their homes and property. They were awarded amounts of between $6.7 million and $7.3 million apiece on Friday after jurors deliberated for about four hours.

In an Aug. 28 pretrial memo, the plaintiffs argued BNP Paribas helped the Sudanese government “carry out one of the most notorious campaigns of persecution in modern history.”

“They're very gratified that steps on the road toward justice are being achieved, and they're happy that the bank

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