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Judge’s decision not to dismiss Holocaust banking cases should not deter forced laborers from filing applications
March 7, 2001 – Today, Judge Shirley W. Kram of the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, refused to dismiss certain Holocaust related litigations involving Austrian and German Banks. The decision was met with substantial disappointment both by the United States Government and plaintiffs lawyers, who had filed papers with the court setting forth the reasons why the matters should be dismissed. The dismissal of all litigations was a prerequisite of the Settlement Agreement with Germany and German industry before payment to former forced slave laborers could begin. Plaintiffs’ counsel are studying the court’s decision to determine the appropriate legal steps to be taken so that the forced labor settlement agreement with German industry can be implemented.
In the interim, it urged that all forced laborers file their applications with the International Organization for Migration, 1752 N. Street, North West, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036, telephone number 1-866-443-5187. Please note that the deadline for filing applications remains August 1, 2001.
Although the decision of Judge Kram will delay the payments to victims, it is anticipated that all aspects of the settlement agreement will be implemented as expeditiously as possible.
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