From Seattletimes · · 2m
Nazi-looted art lawsuits spark legal clash
Jewish heirs sue Los Angeles and Auschwitz museums over Nazi-looted paintings.
In brief
Jewish heirs sue Los Angeles and Auschwitz museums over Nazi-looted paintings. Jewish heirs filed lawsuits to return Nazi-looted paintings from Los Angeles and Auschwitz museums after new California and federal laws strengthened claims. Originally reported by Seattletimes.
Jewish heirs file lawsuits
Jewish heirs of Holocaust victims and their representatives filed two lawsuits in California staking claims to Nazi-looted paintings at Los Angeles and Auschwitz museums.
Lawsuit targets Norton Simon Museum
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles sued Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena for return of Lucas Carnach the Elder’s 1530 oil-on-panel masterpieces 'Adam and Eve'.
Second lawsuit seeks Mengele paintings
Daughters of Holocaust survivor Dinah Gottliebova Babbitt sued for return of watercolors she was forced to paint for Josef Mengele at Auschwitz.
Museums claim legal title
Both museums state they legally hold titles to the artworks and intend to continue public display without returning them.
Artworks create emotional conflict
Jewish families with intergenerational trauma clash with museums over preserving Holocaust history through Nazi-looted art.
Nazi art theft history
Nazi regime seized over 600,000 artworks from Jewish families between 1933 and 1945, now held in museums worldwide.
Jewish Federation plans to help survivors
Jewish Federation of Los Angeles will use net proceeds from recovered art to support about 2,500 Holocaust survivors in Los Angeles.
New California law enables claims
California Assembly Bill 2867, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2 2024, requires state law to apply in lawsuits by California residents for Nazi-looted art.
Federal law updates recovery process
President Donald Trump signed the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025, removing expiration dates for art recovery claims.
Museum defends art ownership
Norton Simon Museum claims federal court in 2018 confirmed proper title to Cranach paintings, which were sold through illicit auction in Berlin in 1931.
Auschwitz Memorial defends paintings
Auschwitz Memorial says watercolors of Roma victims painted by Mengele must remain to document his crimes and not be mischaracterized as Nazi-looted art.
Advocates hope cases proceed
Art Ashes founder Joel Greenberg says new laws ensure cases are heard on merits and help Jewish families reclaim art for up to six years.
The main idea
Jewish heirs filed lawsuits to return Nazi-looted paintings from Los Angeles and Auschwitz museums after new California and federal laws strengthened claims.
