Supreme Court to Hear Case of Ownership of Painting Stolen by Nazis Now Worth Millions

Contact Your Elected Officials

The Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal about ownership of a valuable painting that was seized by the Nazis from a German Jewish family during the Holocaust and is now on display in an art museum in Madrid.

The case is Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Foundation, court file 20-1566. The foundation is an agency of the Kingdom of Spain. The petitioners are: David Cassirer, a descendant of the original painting owner, Lilly Cassirer; an estate; and the Jewish Federation of San Diego County.

“This is a miscarriage of justice that has been going on for way too long,” Steve Zack, an attorney for the petitioners told the San Francisco Chronicle. “It goes back to the Ten Commandments. … A person who has an item stolen from them, they are entitled to get it back when the people who are holding it know that they shouldn’t have possession.”

The Supreme Court agreed on Sept. 30 to consider the petition for certiorari, or review, which was filed with the court on May 6. In an Aug. 17, 2020, ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled unanimously against the petitioners, who now argue that that court misapplied the applicable law.

The Impressionist painting by Camille Pissarro, who died in 1903, called “Rue St.-Honore, Apres-Midi, Effet de Pluie” (English: “Rue Saint-Honoré, Afternoon, Rain Effect”), depicts a Paris street.

The Nazi regime required Fritz and Lilly Cassirer to swap the painting in exchange for exit visas and roughly $360, far short of the real value of the work. The Cassirers complied and escaped with their lives. Lilly Cassirer was never able to receive the payment from the Nazis because the account was blocked, and she spent years trying to locate the missing painting before she died in 1962. Before that, in 1958, she accepted $13,000 in reparations from the German government.

But two decades ago, a friend of one of her descendants spotted the painting, now worth in the tens of millions of dollars, on display in a Spanish museum, NPR summarizes.

“It is undisputed that the Nazis stole the Painting from Lilly in 1939, and the record shows that it was smuggled out of Germany into California after World War II in violation of U.S. Military law, and traded privately in the United States between 1951 and 1976,” according to the petition.

Even though the U.S. Court of Restitution Appeals—a court established by the U.S. government in occupied Germany—previously determined Mrs. Cassirer to be the rightful owner of the painting, it was assumed at the time to have been lost or destroyed in the war.

By Matthew Vadum

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

Charlie Kirk Assassin Spotted Before Shooting!

Charlie Kirk incident mirrors Trump attempt: shooter spotted on rooftop beforehand, echoing July attack’s circumstances.

In Defense of Radical, Real Ukrainian Sovereignty

My view on the deadliest war in modern history...

Is the Left Trying to Start a Race War?

The murder of Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska aboard a North Carolina train, caught on video, sparks outrage and claims of internal threats escalating.

Canada Forces Man to Remove Cameras From Private Property Amid Anti-Racism Push

Government expands its surveillance powers, while restricting citizens from monitoring their own property, citing concerns over “racism.”

Are the E. Jean Carroll Lawsuits a RICO Case?

Trump lost his appeal in the E. Jean Carroll cases, leaving him liable for $83.3M. He plans to take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Utah Event

Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot during an event in Utah on Sept. 10, and he has died.

Charlie Kirk Shot and Has Died

Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem and he has died according to his family.

Witnesses Recount Scene of Charlie Kirk Assassination

Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, while speaking in front of a large crowd as part of a campus speaking tour.

Bipartisan Political Leaders Condemn Shooting of Charlie Kirk

U.S. leaders condemned the Sept. 10 shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, calling for unity and a thorough investigation.

Trump Signs Memo Targeting Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising

President Trump signed a memo to ensure drug ads give fair, balanced, and complete information to protect and inform American consumers.

Trump Runs out of Patience With China, Sharpens His Words

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks targeting China and its allies mark a noticeable shift in tone.

Trump Signs Order Renaming Department of Defense as Department of War

President Donald Trump on Sept. 5 signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Countries That Unlawfully Detain Americans

President Trump signed an EO on targeting the unlawful detention of American citizens around the world and to facilitate the release of hostages.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central