Media Advisory from White & Case LLP
One of the world's leading practicing legal authorities on mass restitution claims stated that yesterday's litigation seeking reparations for descendants of African-American slaves is without legal grounding, but nonetheless is a serious threat to many businesses, because of the lawsuits' political and public relations implications.
Owen C. Pell, a partner of White & Case LLP in New York, took this view in statements quoted in today's Wall Street Journal and New York Times stories reporting the filing of slavery-reparations suits against Aetna Inc., Fleet-Boston Financial Corp. and CSX Corp.
Owen Pell represented several US and French financial institutions in reparations matters arising out of Holocaust-related claims. Attached is a memo he prepared concerning the legal issues arising out of the slavery-related claims in the United States. The memo may serve as a useful background paper as you sort through the legal issues arising from this important ongoing story.
Mr. Pell is available for on- or off-air question-and-answer and commentary concerning this issue. He can be reached at <mailto:opell at whitecase.com>opell at whitecase.com or 212-819-8891, or by contacting Roger J. Cohen, Senior Communications Manager at:
White & Case LLP New York 212/819-8732 <mailto:rcohen at whitecase.com>rcohen at whitecase.com