Supreme Court Rules Against Holocaust Survivors in Lawsuit Against Hungary

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled against a group of Holocaust survivors seeking compensation from Hungary for property confiscated during World War II, stating that their legal theory did not meet the requirements of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. Justice Sonia Sotomayor emphasized that claims of commingled funds from expropriated property, without more substantial evidence, are insufficient for a lawsuit to proceed in U.S. courts. The survivors had argued that Hungary's national railway mixed proceeds from their confiscated property with general funds used for commercial activities in the U.S. However, the court expressed concern over potential international repercussions if the case were allowed to move forward, aligning with the Biden administration's stance that it could invite reciprocal lawsuits against the U.S. This ruling is part of a long-standing legal battle that has lasted nearly 15 years, and it underscores the limitations placed on foreign sovereign immunity in American courts. The decision marks a significant setback for the survivors and their heirs, who had hoped to achieve justice through this legal avenue.