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April 29, 2001 News for Immediate Release
NOTICE OF COURT HEARING
On May 25, 2001, the Honorable Judge Maxine Chesney will hold a hearing on the issue of "Political Question." The Vatican Bank and Franciscan Order have asked the court to dismiss the class action on grounds the court does not have jurisdiction over "political" matters. On behalf of plaintiffs we will be vigorously opposing the defendants’ motion.
All plaintiffs and potential class members as well as other interested parties are encouraged to attend this historic court hearing.
Hearing Date: May 25, 2001
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: United States District Court, Courtroom 5, 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA
EASTON & LEVY
NEWSLETTER TO CLAIMANTS
No.9 ~ August 1, 2000
Dear Friends:
We are pleased to announce several interesting development in the case as of August 1, 2000:
1. We are asking the court for permission to add the Swiss National Bank to the list of defendants. The Swiss National Bank accepted deposits of Ustasha loot during the Second World War but has never accounted for much of the gold and other stolen property. As you may know, the Swiss National Bank recently settled claims against it and other Swiss banks for 1.25 billion dollars, however that settlement did not address the Ustasha treasury.
2. The Franciscan Order has been quite aggressive in their denials of collaboration and participation in Ustasha atrocities. We have submitted additional details of the Franciscans complicity in genocide to the court.
3. The nature and ownership of the Vatican Bank remains a mystery, we have asked the court for an order requiring the Vatican Bank to supply us with this key information about itself.
4. We are pleased to announce that David Guyatt of London, England has been retained as our expert in international banking. David has twenty four years experience as an international banker and is now an author specializing in plundered WWII assets.
5. We welcome two new individual plaintiffs, Dr Daniel Pyevich of Hillsdale, IL (whose parents were born in Citluk, near Gospic, Lika, and who lost many relatives there in WW2) and Koviljka Popovic of Smederevo, Yugoslavia (daughter of Bozo Kolak, a farmer of the village of Tulje, Trebinje, murdered by the Ustashi), as well a new organization, The International Union of Former Juvenile Prisoners of Fascism which represents Nazi victims in the former Soviet Union including Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus.
Dear Friends:
The scope of the class action lawsuit against the Vatican Bank and other defendants is worldwide. Any person or organization that lost property or was a victim of the Ustasha regime in Croatia is eligible to participate, this includes heirs. Since the lawsuit process is at its very beginning, the Court has not yet decided if this matter may proceed. Therefore it will be important to demonstrate to the Court the worldwide class is both numerous and diverse, we need potential claimants to come from forward from all groups of victims in as many states and countries as possible. We especially need claimants from Yugoslavia and California.
We are STILL gathering the stories of WW2 Ustashi atrocities. We anticipate that the defendant Franciscan Order may deny its participation with the Ustasha regime despite the well documented historical evidence to the contrary, any stories or testimonies about the Franciscans or Catholic Church in Croatia during 1941 to 1945 would help our case. Indeed all stories are important because they demonstrate to the Judge the importance of our cause.
If you would like to write yours for us, and sign it as a Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury for our eventual use in federal court, we will be very appreciative.
It can be faxed to us at 707-465-5389, and/or the original sent by mail to 1335 Pebble Beach Dr, Crescent City CA 95531-3350.
If you would NOT like it used in any media, please make a notation at the end: DO NOT USE WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION.
DECLARATION OF _______________________[your name]_______________________
IN SUPPORT OF ALPERIN et al. v. VATICAN BANK et al., USDC NO. C9904941 MMC.
[ your story with as much detail as you can recall]
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct and executed this ____ of January, 2000, in __[city]___, ___[state}____, ____[country]______________________ [signature]
[Your Printed name] ______________________________
[Your address & telephone & fax & email] ________________________________________________
If you would like us to represent you as plaintiff/claimant please use the form below as well:
ATTORNEY CLIENT REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT
The undersigned, _____________________________, CLIENT does hereby retain and employ the LAW OFFICE OF THOMAS DEWEY EASTON, Tom Easton and Jonathan H. Levy, ATTORNEYS.
1. EXTENT OF REPRESENTATION. ATTORNEYS shall represent CLIENT to recover a settlement or judgment for money or other compensation for injuries and damages suffered by the CLIENT as the result of the taking of property during WW2 by the Ustasha and placed in the Ustasha Treasury.
ATTORNEYS shall have authority to prosecute all entities or persons, including the Vatican Bank and the Franciscan Order, that received or profited from the use of the Ustasha Treasury by making them defendants in a class action, and to enforce any judgment or award for CLIENT. CLIENT understands and acknowledges that ATTORNEYS may associate with other attorneys or class action law firms for the prosecution of this class action.
2. FEES AND COSTS. The attorney's fees and costs in this class action will be set by the Court and will not in any event be payable by CLIENT.
All costs will be advanced by ATTORNEYS to prosecute the class action. All such advanced costs and expenses attributable to CLIENT'S case shall be reimbursed to ATTORNEYS from the recovery, if any, but will never be owed by CLIENT unless ATTORNEYS win a recovery.
3. SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEYS. In the event that CLIENT terminates this ATTORNEY/CLIENT relationship and substitutes another attorney in this action, ATTORNEYS shall be entitled to full compensation for the reasonable value of services rendered to the date of substitution from any recovery; but if no recovery ATTORNEYS are entitled to nothing.
4. WITHDRAWAL. ATTORNEYS may withdraw from this case at any time by giving reasonable notice.
5. NO GUARANTEES. ATTORNEYS cannot and do not make any guarantees regarding the successful resolution of this case and all expressions relative thereto are the opinions of the attorneys only. CLIENT understands that ATTORNEYS do not carry any errors & omissions insurance.
________________________________________
Client Signature
Client name and address: _______________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Date: ______________________
LAW OFFICES OF THOMAS DEWEY EASTON & JONATHAN LEVY
