As most of you know, I've been closely following the case of Garb v. Republic of Poland, an action by Jewish plaintiffs for restitution of private (not communal) property originally seized by the Nazis and Communists. This case was dismissed by both the US District Court in Brooklyn and the US Court of Appeals in Manhattan. The only action left was to ask the US Supreme Court to hear this case.

Earlier this week I was advised by the attorney for the plaintiffs that they decided not to take their appeal to the Supreme Court. Thus seven years of litigation ends with a victory for Poland.

The only recourse left to the plaintiffs is to institute legal action in Polish courts, or wait for the Polish government to enact the restitution legislation mentioned in the JTA news brief which I've appended.

Charles Chotkowski

From JTA News Service:
Poland to take up compensation bill

A bill in Poland on compensation for property confiscated by the Nazis will be addressed by the country’s Parliament next month.

The bill, which proposes a 15 percent rate of compensation for property based on current prices, is on the Parliament’s agenda for Sept. 6-8.

The bill covers property stolen by the Nazis from Jewish owners, which was later taken by the Communist state. If the bill passes, about 20 percent of the claims are expected to come from Jewish owners and their heirs.

Claimants would not be required to have Polish citizenship to apply for compensation. Jewish groups have objected to the level of compensation offered in the bill.