Four California Armenian Charities to Receive $333,000 Each From a $20 Million Class Action Settlement

Four California Armenian charities will receive $333,000 each from a $20 million class action settlement between New York Life and descendants of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Ceremony date: Monday, February 28, 2005, 10:00 a.m., Pasadena, California

(PRWEB) February 24, 2005 -- Before 1915, New York Life sold life insurance policies to thousands of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. New York Life policyholders were among the 1.5 million Armenians massacred during the Armenian Genocide at that time. In the ensuing chaos, many of the rightful policy heirs were unable to obtain insurance proceeds while others were unaware that they were entitled to benefits. During litigation, New York Life acknowledged its records indicated an estimated 2,400 policies sold to Armenians before the Genocide may remain unpaid. The class includes Armenians living in the United States and abroad who are descendants and heirs of policyholders. They will share the bulk of the settlement.

Legal and Political Significance: The class action is the oldest resolved case in U.S. history—90 years have passed between the original events and the settlement. It is also the first recorded case addressing issues involving the Armenian Genocide. The United States and Turkish governments have never officially acknowledged the Armenian Genocide despite overwhelming evidence and eyewitness accounts. In direct contrast, a private company (New York Life) acknowledged the tragedy and fulfilled its obligation to the victims.

The class action was originally filed in November 1999 in Federal District Court in Los Angeles (Martin Marootian, et al. v. New York Life Insurance Company). Class co-counsel includes California attorneys Brian S. Kabateck, Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP, Vartkes Yeghiayan, Yeghiayan & Associates, Mark J. Geragos, Geragos & Geragos and William Shernoff, Shernoff, Bidart & Darras.

Deadline: Descendants have until March 15, 2005 to make a claim for a portion of the settlement. Details are available at www.ArmenianInsuranceSettlement.com.

What: Ceremony in which four California Armenian charities will receive $333,000 each from a $20 million class action settlement between New York Life and descendants of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

When: Monday, February 28, 2005, 10:00 a.m.

Where: 215 South Grand Ave.
     Pasadena, CA 91105 (residence)

Directions: 134 Freeway North, exit and turn right on Orange Grove Blvd., turn right on West Green Street; turn left on South Grand Ave.

Who: Martin Marootian, age 89 and lead plaintiff in the class action against New York Life, class attorneys Brian S. Kabateck, Vartkes Yeghiayan, Mark J. Geragos and William Shernoff, California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, Bill Werfelman from New York Life and representatives from the Armenian charities

The four organizations receiving $333,000 each are:
-Armenian Church of North America Western Diocese, Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Burbank, California
-Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Los Angeles, California
-Armenian Educational Foundation
Glendale, California
-Armenian Relief Society, Maro Minassian, Anahid Meymerian
Watertown, Mass. (headquarters)

Contact:
Diane Zakian Rumbaugh
Phone: 805-493-2877
Cell: 805-407-1888
E-mail: rumbaugh@earthlink.net

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