Opinion ID: 3020161
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Obtaining Dismissals of Cases Pending

Text: in United States Courts 14 The Berlin Accords conditioned contributions to the Foundation on the dismissal of all pending and future WWII-era claims against German companies in United States courts. Joint Statement, Preamble, para. 13; id., § 4(b). Claimants contend at the time the Joint Statement and Executive Agreement were signed on July 17, 2000, the parties expected it would take about six months to obtain dismissal of cases then pending in United States courts. In August 2000, at the request of the parties, the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation consolidated fiftythree cases involving slave and forced labor claims—most of which were putative class actions—before Judge Bassler in the United States District Court for New Jersey. MDL Transfer Order, No. 1337 (August 4, 2000); see In re Nazi Era Cases Against German Defs. Litig., 213 F. Supp. 2d 439, 442 (2002). Suits involving unpaid insurance policies proceeded in the Southern District of New York before Chief Judge Mukasey; and suits against German banks involving unpaid insurance policies proceeded in the Southern District of New York before