1947 Verdict Against Global Business Leader Jan A. Bata, Accused of Nazi Collaboration, is Overturned by Prague Court

The City Court in Prague, Czech Republic has re-opened a 60-year-old case in which an international businessman and Czech nationalist was falsely accused of collaboration with the Nazis. Jan Antonín Baťa, brother of the world famous shoemaker Tomáš Baťa, was sentenced in absentia in 1947 for collaboration with the Nazis by the National Court in Prague. Thomas J. Baťa, 91, nephew of Jan Bat'a, testified on Monday in court to achieve the cancellation of the verdict against his uncle. He said that he believed that justice would win.

Our family is thrilled with the positive verdict, which lifts a dark cloud that has hovered over our family for the past sixty years.

Lexington, MA (PRWEB) July 2, 2007 --The City Court in Prague, Czech Republic has re-opened a 60-year-old case [National Court 's verdict Ref. No. 12/47 on May 2, 1947 in which an international businessman and Czech nationalist was falsely accused of collaboration with the Nazis. Jan Antonín Baťa, brother of the world famous shoemaker Tomáš Baťa, was sentenced in absentia in 1947 for collaboration with the Nazis by the National Court in Prague.

Thomas J. Baťa, 91, nephew of Jan Bat'a, testified on Monday in court to achieve the cancellation of the verdict against his uncle. He said that he believed that justice would win.

John G. Nash, Bata's grandson, compiled much of the research for the case in the U.S.A. over a 20-year period. "This is a great day for our family", stated Nash, who has dedicated much of his life to clearing his grandfather's name.

Thomas J. Bat'a led Monday's success in cooperation with the American branch of the Bat'a family.

Last week's victory leveraged an unsuccessful attempt in 1994 to clear Jan Bat'a. Stating procedural deficiencies, the court did not reopen the case, however a clause did allowed for the case to be reopened if and when new evidence was submitted that would changed the 1947 decision.

Thomas J. Bat'a of Canada gave testimony on Monday confirming that Jan Bat'a supported the Czech Government-in-Exile through more than a quarter of a million dollars in secret donations, the equivalent of roughly four million in today's US dollars.

"The family is truly thankful for Thomas' efforts in this case; he was highly instrumental in getting my grandfather's name cleared," says John Nash. "Our family is thrilled with the positive verdict, which lifts a dark cloud that has hovered over our family for the past sixty years."

Historical material about the case has been assembled by the family at http://www.batahistory.com

Available photos: Jan Bata with his son Jan Tomas Bata, 1938

Jan A. Bata typing on a business trip.

Canadian and European press have covered the story at:

From the Czech newspapers: http://www.czech.cz/en/news/domestic-news/prague-city-court-orders-to-re-open-case-of-batas-uncle/

There is also a BBC Online article and short clip of Jan Bata speech of March of 1938 at BBC Online audio clip of Batra 1938 speech
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/229400

The Vancouver Sun
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=22ee17b5-45ab-4d20-9813-af98a4b660b4&k=77659

CONTACT:
John Nash (Bata grandson)
Email: batanash @ gmail.com
Tel. 781.367.9509
Or
Pavel Prazak (Bata family attorney) pprazak @ subterra.com

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