No. 19-942

Laurel Zuckerman, as Ancillary Administratrix of the Estate of Alice Leffmann v. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lower Court: Second Circuit
Docketed: 2020-01-28
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (7)Response Waived Experienced Counsel
Tags: art-restitution civil-rights holocaust-expropriated-art-recovery-act holocaust-expropriation laches laches-defense nazi-persecution property-recovery statute-of-limitations unclean-hands
Latest Conference: 2020-02-28
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether the nonstatutory defense of laches may bar an action to recover artwork lost because of Nazi persecution, where that action has been brought within the statute of limitations prescribed by Congress in the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016?

2. Whether an action may be dismissed for laches at the Rule 12(b)(6) stage without discovery or exploration of factual disputes about the laches defense?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the nonstatutory defense of laches may bar an action to recover artwork lost because of Nazi persecution, where that action has been brought within the statute of limitations prescribed by Congress in the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016?

Docket Entries

2020-03-02
Petition DENIED.
2020-02-27
Brief amicus curiae of Byrne Goldenberg & Hamilton, PLLC filed.
2020-02-25
Brief amici curiae of Law Professors filed.
2020-02-25
Brief amicus curiae of James D. Bindenagel filed. (Distributed)
2020-02-24
Brief amici curiae of B'nai B'rith International, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, Simon Wiesenthal Center, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2020-02-24
Brief amici curiae of Armenian Bar Association and Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights filed. (Distributed)
2020-02-21
Brief amici curiae of Current and Former Members of Congress filed. (Distributed)
2020-02-20
Brief amici curiae of The 1939 Society, Bet Tzedek, and The Holocaust Education Center in the Desert, Inc. d/b/a Tolerance Education Center filed. (Distributed)
2020-02-14
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Laurel Zuckerman, as Ancillary Administratrix of the Estate of Alice Leffmann
2020-02-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/28/2020.
2020-02-07
Waiver of right of respondent The Metropolitan Museum of Art to respond filed.
2020-01-24
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 27, 2020)
2019-11-19
Application (19A562) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until January 24, 2020.
2019-11-14
Application (19A562) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from November 27, 2019 to January 24, 2020, submitted to Justice Ginsburg.

Attorneys

Armenian Bar Association and Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights
Seepan Vartan ParseghianBeck Redden LLP, Amicus
B'nai B'rith International, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, Simon Wiesenthal Center, et al.
Jennifer Anglim KrederNKU- Chase College of Law, Amicus
Byrne Goldenberg & Hamilton, PLLC
Thomas J. HamiltonByrne Goldenberg & Hamilton PLLC, Amicus
Current and Former Members of Congress
Andrew Harry ErteschikPoyner Spruill LLP, Amicus
James D. Bindenagel
Owen C. PellWhite & Case LLP, Amicus
Laurel Zuckerman, as Ancillary Administratrix of the Estate of Alice Leffmann
Mary-Christine SungailaHaynes and Boone, LLP, Petitioner
Law Professors
Leigh Ann SchellAdams and Reese LLP, Amicus
The 1939 Society, Bet Tzedek, and The Holocaust Education Center in the Desert, Inc. d/b/a Tolerance Education Center
Benjamin Gross ShatzManatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP, Amicus
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
David William BowkerWilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Respondent