The Supreme Court announced Thursday that it will hear a case brought against Germany by descendants of Jewish art dealers who claim that in 1935 their relatives were forced to sell a collection of religious works of art to the Nazi government.
An appeals court ruled that the case could go ahead despite a general rule against suing foreign countries in US courts, with the exception of “property taken in violation of international law.” The DC Circuit ruled this because the seizure was part of the Nazis’ genocide against Jews in Europe.
SUPREME COURT TO LISTEN TO ARGUMENTS ON THE APPLICATION FOR A HOUSE FOR GRAND MUELLER JURY MATERIAL
“Germany seeks to eliminate recourse to art looted by the Nazis and the Court will have an opportunity to answer this question of critical importance to victims of the Holocaust,” said Nicholas M. O’Donnell, attorney for the heirs of art dealers. .
German attorney Jonathan Freiman told The Associated Press: “We are pleased that the Supreme Court is hearing the case and we hope to explain why this dispute does not belong to a US court.”
Art dealers collectively purchased the work of art, known as the Guelph Treasury, in 1929. It includes items from the 11th to 15th centuries.
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The Supreme Court also agreed to hear a similar case, where Jews are suing Hungary, claiming that their relatives’ assets were seized when they were forced to board Hungarian trains to be sent to death camps during the Holocaust.
The court is expected to hear the arguments in both cases after taking a summer break.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
