No. 19-351

Federal Republic of Germany, et al. v. Alan Philipp, et al.

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2019-09-18
Status: Judgment Issued
Type: Paid
CVSGAmici (9)Relisted (3) Experienced Counsel
Tags: circuit-split comity diplomatic-issues expropriation-exception foreign-sovereign-immunities foreign-sovereign-immunity human-rights-law international-comity international-human-rights international-law property-taking property-takings takings
Key Terms:
Takings JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2020-07-01 (distributed 3 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the 'expropriation exception' of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act provides jurisdiction over claims that a foreign sovereign has violated international human-rights law when taking property from its own national within its own borders

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED The questions presented are: 1. Whether the “expropriation exception” of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1605(a)(3), which abrogates foreign sovereign immunity when “rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue,” provides jurisdiction over claims that a foreign sovereign has violated international human-rights law when taking property from its own national within its own borders, even though such claims do not implicate the established international law governing states’ responsibility for takings of property. 2. Whether the doctrine of international comity is unavailable in cases against foreign sovereigns, even in cases of considerable historical and political significance to the foreign sovereign, and even where the foreign nation has a domestic framework for addressing the claims.

Docket Entries

2021-03-08
JUDGMENT ISSUED.
2021-02-03
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/19-351_o7jp.pdf'>opinion</a> for a unanimous Court.
2020-12-07
Argued. For petitioners: Jonathan M. Freiman, New Haven, Conn.; and Edwin S. Kneedler, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Nicholas M. O'Donnell, Boston, Mass.
2020-11-23
Reply of petitioners Federal Republic of Germany, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2020-11-09
Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
2020-10-29
Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
2020-10-29
Brief amici curiae of American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists and other advocates for Holocaust restitution filed. (Distributed)
2020-10-29
Brief amicus curiae of Peter Toren filed. (Distributed)
2020-10-29
Proposal of amici curiae the World Jewish Congress, Commission for Art Recovery, and Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder to lodge materials under Rule 32.3 filed.
2020-10-28
Brief amicus curiae of The Holocaust Art Restitution Project, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
2020-10-27
Brief amici curiae of Florida Holocaust Museum, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2020-10-27
CIRCULATED
2020-10-22
Proposal of Respondents to lodge materials under Rule 32.3 filed.
2020-10-22
Brief of respondents Alan Philipp, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2020-10-19
Record received from the U.S.C.A. D.C. Circuit is electronic and located on PACER.
2020-10-19
Brief amici curiae of National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs (COLPA), et al. filed.
2020-10-08
Record requested from the U.S.C.A. District of Columbia Circuit.
2020-09-16
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, December 7, 2020.
2020-09-11
Brief amici curiae of Holocaust and Nuremberg Historians in support of neither part filed.
2020-09-11
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2020-09-10
Brief amici curiae of Foreign International Law Scholars and Jurists filed.
2020-09-10
Brief amici curiae of Davis R. Robinson, et al. in support of neither party filed.
2020-09-04
Proposal of petitioners to lodge materials under Rule 32.3 filed.
2020-09-04
Brief of petitioners Federal Republic of Germany, et al. filed.
2020-09-04
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
2020-07-31
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Federal Republic of Germany, et al.
2020-07-31
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Alan Philipp, et al.
2020-07-30
Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 4, 2020. The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including October 22, 2020.
2020-07-29
Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
2020-07-02
Petition GRANTED.
2020-06-29
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 7/1/2020.
2020-06-09
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/25/2020.
2020-01-21
The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
2019-12-30
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/17/2020.
2019-12-27
Reply of petitioners Federal Republic of Germany, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2019-10-17
Brief of respondents Alan Philipp, et al. in opposition filed.
2019-09-16
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 18, 2019)
2019-07-30
Application (19A118) denied by The Chief Justice. The application is denied without prejudice to petitioners filing a new application after seeking relief in the district court.
2019-07-26
Application (19A118) for a stay pending the filing and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari, submitted to The Chief Justice.

Attorneys

Alan Philipp, et al.
Nicholas Michael O'DonnellSullivan & Worcester LLP, Respondent
Nicholas Michael O'DonnellSullivan & Worcester LLP, Respondent
American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists and other advocates for Holocaust restitution
Arthur Richter TraldiAndreozzi & Foote, Amicus
Arthur Richter TraldiAndreozzi & Foote, Amicus
Davis R. Robinson, Abraham D. Sofaer, David P. Stewart and Edwin Williamson
James Harold HulmeArent Fox LLP, Amicus
James Harold HulmeArent Fox LLP, Amicus
Federal Republic of Germany, et al.
Jonathan M. FreimanWiggin & Dana LLP, Petitioner
Jonathan M. FreimanWiggin & Dana LLP, Petitioner
Florida Holocaust Museum, et al.
Donald S BurrisBurris & Schoenberg, LLP, Amicus
Donald S BurrisBurris & Schoenberg, LLP, Amicus
Foreign International Law Scholars and Jurists
Lisa Marie GearyRMP, LLP, Amicus
Lisa Marie GearyRMP, LLP, Amicus
Holocaust and Nuremberg Historians
Owen C. PellWhite & Case LLP, Amicus
Owen C. PellWhite & Case LLP, Amicus
Holocaust Survivors Foundation, USA, Inc., Renee Firestone, David Mermelstein, David Schaecter, Klaire Firestone, Thomas Weiss, M.D., And Naomi Vilko, M.D.
Samuel J. DubbinDubbin & Kravetz, LLP, Amicus
Samuel J. DubbinDubbin & Kravetz, LLP, Amicus
Members of the United States House of Representatives
Akiva ShapiroGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Akiva ShapiroGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs (COLPA), et al.
Nathan Lewin — Amicus
Nathan Lewin — Amicus
Peter Toren
Lawrence Saul RobbinsRobbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber LLP, Amicus
Lawrence Saul RobbinsRobbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber LLP, Amicus
Professor William S. Dodge and Professor Maggie Gardner
Geoffrey Morris KlinebergKellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C., Amicus
Geoffrey Morris KlinebergKellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C., Amicus
Professors Samuel Estreicher And Thomas H. Lee
Amelia Lynn Borrego SargentWillenken LLP, Amicus
Amelia Lynn Borrego SargentWillenken LLP, Amicus
Societe Nationale SNCF SA
John Bellinger Bellinger IIIArnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, Amicus
John Bellinger Bellinger IIIArnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, Amicus
The 1939 Society, Michael Bazyler, Bet Tzedek, Center for the Study of Law & Genocide at LMU Loyola Law School, and The Holocaust Education Center in the Desert, Inc. d/b/a Tolerance Education Center
Benjamin Gross ShatzManatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP, Amicus
Benjamin Gross ShatzManatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP, Amicus
The Holocaust Art Restitution Project, Inc.
Pierre CiricThe Ciric Law Firm, PLLC, Amicus
Pierre CiricThe Ciric Law Firm, PLLC, Amicus
The World Jewish Congress, Commission for Art Recovery, and Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder
Thomas Russell KlineCultural Heritage Partners, PLLC, Amicus
Thomas Russell KlineCultural Heritage Partners, PLLC, Amicus
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarActing Solicitor General, Amicus
Elizabeth B. PrelogarActing Solicitor General, Amicus