No. 18-1447October Term 2020Decided Feb 3, 2021
Republic of Hungary v. Simon
This case involves Holocaust survivors and their heirs suing Hungary and its national railway in U.S. courts for property allegedly seized during World War II.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Feb 3, 2021
- What it's about
This case involves Holocaust survivors and their heirs suing Hungary and its national railway in U.S. courts for property allegedly seized during World War II. The Supreme Court vacated the lower court’s ruling and sent the case back for reconsideration in light of Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp, which addressed when the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act allows such suits against foreign governments.
Question presented
May the district court abstain from exercising jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act for reasons of international comity, where former Hungarian nationals have sued the nation of Hungary to recover the value of property lost in Hungary during World War II, and where the plaintiffs made no attempt to exhaust local Hungarian remedies?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit / Decision released Feb 3, 2021
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided February 3, 2021
The Court released its decision on February 3, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology