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Jewish heirs of Holocaust victims sue California museum over 16th-century paintings stolen by the Nazis

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Jewish heirs of Holocaust victims have filed suit against Pasadena's Norton Simon Museum over 16th-century paintings seized by the Nazis, with a parallel legal fight also involving the Auschwitz museum.
Jewish heirs of Holocaust victims have filed suit against Pasadena's Norton Simon Museum over 16th-century paintings seized by the Nazis, with a parallel legal fight also involving the Auschwitz museum.

New legislation has triggered fresh legal battles over Nazi-looted art, with the Jewish heirs of Holocaust victims filing suit against Pasadena's Norton Simon Museum over 16th-century paintings seized by the Nazis during the Second World War. The lawsuits come after new laws opened fresh avenues for families to pursue claims against institutions holding stolen works. A parallel legal fight has also emerged involving the Auschwitz museum.

New laws in the United States have triggered the wave of fresh litigation, giving heirs stronger legal standing to pursue claims.

Families of Holocaust victims argue institutions have held stolen works for decades without returning them to their rightful owners.

MoreThe IndependentHolocaust survivors’ heirs sue California museums for return of Nazi-looted artThe GuardianJewish heirs of Holocaust victims sue California museum over Nazi-looted artAPNew laws trigger a fresh legal fight over Nazi-looted art in Los Angeles and Auschwitz museums
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