Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/20pdf/19-351_o7jp.pdf
Page Number: 20

16 

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY v. PHILIPP 

Opinion of the Court 

Court  was  obligated  to  abstain  from  deciding  the  case  on 
international comity grounds.  Nor do we consider an alter-
native  argument  noted  by  the  heirs:  that  the  sale  of  the 
Welfenschatz is not subject to the domestic takings rule be-
cause the consortium members were not German nationals 
at the time of the transaction.  See Brief for Respondents 
27–28; but see Brief for Petitioners 19, n. 7 (claiming that 
the  heirs  forfeited  this  argument).    The  Court  of  Appeals
should direct the District Court to consider this argument, 
including whether it was adequately preserved below.

The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit
is vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion. 

It is so ordered.