Opinion ID: 151499
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Continued Applicability of Validation Procedures

Text: We first examine whether the bond validation procedures required by the Validation Law are still in force. Mortimer argues that the Unification Treaty's inclusion of the Validation Law in Annex I amounts to an implied agreement that the Validation Law is no longer in effect. This argument is without merit. Article 11 of the Unification Treaty provides that international agreements to which [West Germany] is a party shall retain their validity, and with the exception of the treaties named in Annex I, shall also relate to [former East German] territory. 30 I.L.M. at 471. Article 11's plain language only excludes treaties listed in Annex I from being extended to former East German territory; it in no way affects the validity of those treaties with respect to former West German territory. Cf. Reese Bros., Inc. v. United States, 447 F.3d 229, 235 (3d Cir.2006) (The usual meaning of the word `and' . . . is conjunctive, . . . unless the context dictates otherwise, the `and' is presumed to be used in its ordinary sense. (internal quotation marks omitted)). Moreover, the Validation Law is listed in the FRG's current statutory code, with only minor amendments irrelevant to this case since its enactment. [16] The Validation Law's continued applicability is supported by the inclusion of both the 1953 and 1960 Treaties, which incorporate the Validation Law, in the United States Department of State's list of treaties in force as of January 1, 2009, see United States Department of State, Treaties in Force: A List of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States in Force on January 1, 2009, at 100-01 (2009), available at http:// www.state.gov/documents/organization/ 123747.pdf (last visited January 29, 2010). Both the 1953 and 1960 Treaties confirm that the Validation Law may not be amended or modified except as may be agreed between [West Germany] and the United States. 1960 Treaty, 12 U.S.T. at 944; 1953 Treaty, 4 U.S.T. at 888-89, Art. I. Therefore, inclusion on the treaties in force list suggests the conclusion that there has been no agreement between the United States and the FRG to nullify the Validation Law. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the Validation Law's bond validation procedures continue to apply to the West German Bonds.