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Court Sets Deadline For Property Transfer In Armenian Genocide Museu

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  • Court Sets Deadline For Property Transfer In Armenian Genocide Museu

    COURT SETS DEADLINE FOR PROPERTY TRANSFER IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM CASE
    by Emil Sanamyan

    http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-05-11-court-sets-deadline-for-property-transfer-in-armenian-genocide-museum-case
    Published: Wednesday May 11, 2011

    Deadline is May 23; Assembly motion for new trial is denied

    National Bank of Washington building (center) and four structures to
    the left reverted to the Cafesjian Foundation. PQLiving.com

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    Washington - The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
    has entered its final judgment in the Armenian Genocide museum and
    memorial case, ordering on May 9 that all of the properties assembled
    for the project revert to the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF)
    by May 23. The order comes following the court's initial ruling in
    favor of CFF made on January 26.

    Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly also denied the motion for a new trial
    filed by the Armenian Assembly of America, the losing party.

    "I welcome the court's concluding verdict that finally frees us all
    to build this long-awaited museum and memorial about the fact and
    ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide," CFF chairman Gerard L.

    Cafesjian said, commenting on the verdict.

    "Thankfully, this case is finally over," said John B. Williams,
    counsel for CFF. "The properties have to be transferred to CFF in the
    next two weeks. That is what we have all been fighting for. We hope
    that the Assembly leadership will be willing to amicably resolve the
    few loose ends that remain."

    CFF board member Ross Vartian reiterated the call to the leadership
    of the Armenian Assembly to "cease blocking the project and instead
    to abide by the May 9 ruling ordering the transfer of all properties
    to the CFF no later than May 23, 2011."

    "Further delay serves no constructive purpose," Vartian added in a
    comment for The Armenian Reporter, which is published by Mr.

    Cafesjian.

    Key elements of the final verdict

    The judge ordered the "transfer the property to CFF in accordance with
    D.C. law by no later than May 23, 2011." And further that the transfer
    take place "without any reimbursement requirement and without regard
    to any tax consequences that might result from the transfer."

    The latter clause is significant since the AAA was seeking to further
    delay the property transfer by claiming that hypothetical property
    appreciation could possibly have tax consequences.

    The Court also asked a magistrate judge to determine the exact amount
    of compensation due to Mr. Cafesjian for legal fees he paid as he
    was forced to defend himself against what were proved in court to be
    groundless accusations.

    The court will further probe the issue of whether AAA acted in bad
    faith by delaying production of documents until the eve of trial. The
    court also noted the "the damning contents of many of the[se]
    documents." If the judge is not satisfied by AAA's explanation, she
    may order payment of additional expenses incurred by Mr. Cafesjian
    as a result.

    The court determined that AAA leadership was not acting in violation
    of court orders when it recently moved the collections of the Armenian
    National Institute - intended for the future museum and memorial -
    from the premises to an off-site storage facility.

    Denying motion for new trial

    The court also denied the motion for a new trial filed by AAA as it
    "failed to present a valid basis for ordering a new trial."

    With an affidavit filed by Van Krikorian, the motion alleged that
    the court was biased in favor of Mr. Cafesjian because of the judge's
    shared interest in art and alleged connections with former president
    Bill Clinton.

    "Based on Van Krikorian's declaration, it appears that the filing of
    the motion was motivated by the fact that [AAA] received a largely
    adverse decision from the Court rather than by the sudden discovery
    of an alleged bias" in favor of Mr. Cafesjian, the judge wrote in
    the memorandum opinion.

    The court also noted that the motion "does not state that the
    declaration of Van Krikorian was submitted in good faith" as is
    required.

    The court called the conspiracy theory concocted as part of their
    motion as "entirely speculative."

    "The causal connection between the Court's rulings and its alleged
    interest is far too attenuated to warrant recusal," the court
    concluded.

    Going forward

    Speaking from the steps of the future site of the museum and memorial
    on April 24 Ross Vartian stressed that "CFF pledges to relaunch this
    project with the participation of all interested organizations and
    individuals."

    "We will do so in common cause and urgent purpose," Vartian said.

    "Together we will complete this first ever museum and memorial in the
    Diaspora dedicated to this crime against humanity by April 24, 2015.

    Our martyrs and survivors deserve nothing less."

    To view May 9, 2011 memorandum opinion
    outlining the final judgment in the case visit
    https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2008cv1254-241

    To view May 9, 2011 memorandum opinion
    denying the motion for a new trial visit
    https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2008cv1254-239

    To view January 26 memorandum opinion
    with the original court ruling visit
    https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2008cv1254-193

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