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Cafesjian Foundation wins Genocide Museum lawsuit
January 29, 2011 - 14:28 AMT 10:28 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
A U.S. court decision removed a major hurdle for the future Armenian
Genocide Museum and Memorial when a federal judge ruled that all
properties located in downtown Washington, which had been purchased
and donated by Gerard L. Cafesjian for the purposes of the project,
revert to the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF).
In addition to the reversion of property, the ruling dismissed all
claims launched against Mr. Cafesjian and CFF by Hirair Hovnanian and
his associates, reinstated CFF on the board of the Armenian Genocide
Museum & Memorial (AGMM Inc.) and ruled that Mr. Cafesjian is entitled
to compensation of his legal fees.
Starting in the year 2000, Mr. Cafesjian initiated a large-scale
purchase of a group of buildings located just two blocks from the
White House. These included the historic National Bank of Washington
building and four adjacent structures.
In 2003, the properties were donated to the newly-established AGMM,
Inc. on the condition that they would be developed into the Armenian
Genocide Museum and Memorial by December 31, 2010. Mr. Cafesjian, Mr.
Hovnanian, Robert Kaloosdian and others were included on the AGMM,
Inc. board as founding members.
According to witness testimony, subsequent efforts to develop the
project were stymied by objections from Mr. Hovnanian and Mr.
Kaloosdian, leaving the project in a standstill. The court agreed and
found that that Mr. Hovnanian and Mr. Kaloosdian were not supportive
of Mr. Cafesjian's vision for the project.
On January 26, the judge ruled that the parties' agreement reached in
2003 remained in force and accordingly all the properties donated by
Mr. Cafesjian had reverted to CFF as of December 3, according to The
Armenian Reporter.
From: A. Papazian
January 29, 2011 - 14:28 AMT 10:28 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
A U.S. court decision removed a major hurdle for the future Armenian
Genocide Museum and Memorial when a federal judge ruled that all
properties located in downtown Washington, which had been purchased
and donated by Gerard L. Cafesjian for the purposes of the project,
revert to the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF).
In addition to the reversion of property, the ruling dismissed all
claims launched against Mr. Cafesjian and CFF by Hirair Hovnanian and
his associates, reinstated CFF on the board of the Armenian Genocide
Museum & Memorial (AGMM Inc.) and ruled that Mr. Cafesjian is entitled
to compensation of his legal fees.
Starting in the year 2000, Mr. Cafesjian initiated a large-scale
purchase of a group of buildings located just two blocks from the
White House. These included the historic National Bank of Washington
building and four adjacent structures.
In 2003, the properties were donated to the newly-established AGMM,
Inc. on the condition that they would be developed into the Armenian
Genocide Museum and Memorial by December 31, 2010. Mr. Cafesjian, Mr.
Hovnanian, Robert Kaloosdian and others were included on the AGMM,
Inc. board as founding members.
According to witness testimony, subsequent efforts to develop the
project were stymied by objections from Mr. Hovnanian and Mr.
Kaloosdian, leaving the project in a standstill. The court agreed and
found that that Mr. Hovnanian and Mr. Kaloosdian were not supportive
of Mr. Cafesjian's vision for the project.
On January 26, the judge ruled that the parties' agreement reached in
2003 remained in force and accordingly all the properties donated by
Mr. Cafesjian had reverted to CFF as of December 3, according to The
Armenian Reporter.
From: A. Papazian