Guest Posted September 1, 2000 Report Share Posted September 1, 2000 Genocide insurance bill sent to Davis Legislation would allow victims or their heirs to sue companies for old claims. By CLAUDIA PESCHIUTTA BURBANK -- Whether Armenian Genocide victims or their heirs will be able to sue U.S. insurance companies for claims stemming from old policies depends only on the pen of Gov. Gray Davis. The bill, which seeks to extend the statute of limitations for claims through 2010, was approved by the state Senate with a 39-0 vote Aug. 22 and sent to Davis for approval. State Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), a principal coauthor of the bill, appeared before his peers to urge the legislation's passage. "I was just trying to highlight the importance of providing redress," Schiff said. "These families bought insurance policies, often from American companies, to protect their lives and goods prior to and during the genocide and have never had the opportunity to make a claim on those policies." About 1.5-million Armenians were killed when exiled by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. The Turkish government denies genocide allegations. The legislation had been approved earlier this year but was returned to the state Senate after an urgency clause -- which would make it go into effect immediately after being signed by the governor -- was added, Schiff said. The state senator said he was confident Davis would sign the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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