Guelph Treasure restitution proceedings: SPK appeals to the Supreme Court of the United States
Press release from 09/20/2019
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the lower court's decision in the United States.
The Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (SPK) has applied to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision of the lower court in the USA.
In 2015, a lawsuit was filed in the USA for the return of the Guelph Treasure against the SPK and the Federal Republic of Germany (Philipp and Stiebel vs. Federal Republic of Germany and Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz). The SPK disputes the allegations in the statement of claim. It filed a motion to dismiss the complaint because it believes that the US courts do not have jurisdiction over this type of action. SPK's motion was denied, and an appellate court affirmed in 2018.
The SPK asked the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week to address the question of whether a U.S. court has jurisdiction over a lawsuit against a foreign government and a museum it sponsors when the case took place outside the United States. The lower court's decision extends the jurisdiction of US courts over actions by foreign governments and institutions far beyond what is customary under international law.
The law firm Wiggin and Dana represents SPK in the U.S. proceedings.