U.S. Government

International class action lawsuit settled for $25.5 million on behalf of WWII holocaust victims. Plaintiffs, mostly Hungarian Jews, filed the lawsuit in 2001 against the U.S. government; their case was based on the loss of jewelry, artwork, and other relics that were seized, first by Nazi's then by U.S. troops during WWII. The settlement funds will be delivered to Jewish social service agencies for distribution; 40% of the funds are intended for Hungarian Jews in Israel, 22% to Hungary and 28% to the U.S. and Canada. (Sep-26-05) [SAN DIEGO UNION TRIUBUNE]