WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals issued its decision regarding the planned Armenian Genocide Museum in Washington, DC, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
In its 37-page opinion, the Court of Appeals noted the “tangible progress” made by the Museum’s Building and Operations Committee after Gerard Cafesjian resigned in 2006 but rejected arguments for new trial based on 1) new evidence that Cafesjian’s right-hand man, John Waters was promised a significant bonus if Cafesjian got the properties, and 2) that the District Court Judge ought to have disclosed the joint donation of a significant Stanislav Libensky glass art piece to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by the Judge and Cafesjian, and subsequently recused herself.
Ultimately, the Court of Appeals upheld the District Court’s 2011 ruling, which ordered that all of buildings that were intended for the Armenian Genocide Museum be transferred to the Cafesjian Family Foundation.
“As we approach our 100 year anniversary, we hope the Cafesjian heirs keep the promise Gerry made to the courts, which was to use this property to build a museum.” stated Armenian Genocide Museum & Memorial (AGMM) Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.
Read also
In a related development, AGMM and the Cafesjian Family Foundation settled litigation in a New Jersey case wherein approximately $450,000 from the estate of the late Agnes Kazanjian will be released for the benefit of AGMM. Also, the lawsuit previously brought by Gerard Cafesjian in DC Superior Court to dissolve AGMM was dismissed last month in AGMM’s favor.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
Armenian Assembly of America