Thursday, 25 July 2013

Armenian-American Lawyers Reach Agreement‏



Press Release
<http://centerarnews.com/armenianamerican-lawyers-reach-agreement-p6124-1.htm>

Armenian-American Lawyers Reach Agreement
<http://centerarnews.com/armenianamerican-lawyers-reach-agreement-p6124-1.htm>

The Law Offices of Vartkes Yeghiayan, the firm of Kabateck Brown
Kellner and the firm of Geragos and Geragos jointly announce that
they have amicably resolved their differences which arose from the
settlement of Armenian Genocide Claims in the AXA litigation pending
in federal court. Specifically, the lawsuit filed by Geragos and
Geragos and Kabateck Brown Kellner (Case No. 2:11‐CV‐03043‐
CAS‐AGR), against Mr. Yeghiayan, Rita Mahdessian and a number of
charities is being dismissed with prejudice forthwith. Further, the
parties have agreed on a process for the review of all costs and
charitable awards that the parties have made incident to the AXA
settlement. The parties have also agreed to request that the Federal
District Court keep and maintain jurisdiction over the finalization
of both the claims process as well as the fulfillment of the terms of
this settlement agreement among the law firms.

The AXA Insurance Claims Action was a milestone case. It was
originally filed by Vartkes Yeghiayan and Brian Kabateck in February
2002 in Federal District Court in Los Angeles. Its intent was
threefold: to honor the victims and martyrs of the Armenian Genocide;
to foster public awareness and recognition of the Armenian Genocide;
and to compensate descendants of those policyholders who were killed
in the Armenian Genocide with the rightful monetary benefit that
insurance companies had denied them in the decades following the
horrendous deaths of their parents and grandparents.

The lawyers who filed the case are aware that the AXA case is meager
compensation for the fathomless injustice committed upon the Armenian
people. They know that while they cannot undo the dark pages of
Armenian history, they must continue to fight for justice. The day in
which Armenians cease to fight to correct even the smallest of
injustices they have suffered, such as the failure of insurance
companies to honor contracts signed by Armenians in their homeland,
is the day in which the genocide which was begun in 1915 will be
completely accomplished.

It is for this reason that the lawyers involved have all renewed
their deep commitment to justice for their community and their
forefathers. They have applied that commitment to the AXA case
through their zealous advocacy.

In the words of Mr. Yeghiayan: “We must not lose sight of our main
objective ‐ which is a measure of justice for the heirs of the
victims. The Armenian community expects an orderly and transparent
conclusion of this case.”

Mark Geragos, commenting on the settlement, said: “Brian Kabateck
and I are pleased with this resolution because it will allow all of
us to finalize the settlement agreement, resolve all claims
accounting issues and conclude any remaining issues between the
lawyers. The resolution of this case is as important as continuing
the fight to bring justice for all Genocide victims.”

The parties expect a final accounting and Court order in connection
with the AXA settlement to be issued within 90 days.

CenterAR News
<http://centerarnews.com/armenianamerican-lawyers-reach-agreement-p6124-1.htm>

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