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$20 million settlement for Armenian genocide descendants
Friday, February 20, 2004 Posted: 1348 GMT ( 9:48 PM HKT)
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A judge approved a $20 million settlement in a
class action lawsuit between New York Life Insurance Co. and the descendants of
Armenians killed nearly 90 years ago in the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder on Thursday granted preliminary approval of
the settlement for unpaid death benefits. About $11 million will be set aside
for potential claims by heirs of some 2,400 policyholders, $3 million will go to
nine Armenian charitable organizations and the rest will pay attorneys' fees and
administrative costs.
Snyder set a July 30 court date to hear any objections from plaintiffs, who may
opt out of the settlement. After that date, a Web site will be available for
those seeking money from New York Life for unpaid policies. The company also
will advertise in major newspapers alerting people to the settlement, said the
plaintiffs' attorney, Brian Kabateck.
Armenians have asserted that 1.5 million people were executed between 1915 and
1923 by Turkish authorities who accused them of helping the invading Russian
army during World War I.
Turkey rejected the genocide claim and said Armenians were killed in civil
unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. France and Russia are among 15
countries that have recognized the genocide. The United States has not made such
a declaration.
--
"Naturally, the common people don't want war;
neither in Russia nor in England nor in America,
nor for that matter in Germany.
That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders
of the country who determine the policy and
it is always a simple matter to drag the people
along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist
dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist
dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.
That is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked and denounce the
pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing
the country to danger. It works the same way
in any country."
- Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarshall
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