9th Circuit: Suit To Claim Nazi Confiscated Artwork Can Proceed

In Von Saher v. Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena, (9th Cir., June 6, 2014), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held in a 2-1 decision that the sole living heir of a Jewish family whose art collection was forcibly "purchased" for a fraction of its value by Nazi leader Herman Goring can proceed with a suit to recover two of the paintings presently in a California art museum. The majority held that the suit. brought under California law, is not in conflict with U.S. foreign policy. Judge Wardlaw dissented.