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Yeghiayan, Yemenidjian honored at ArmenBar conference

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  • Yeghiayan, Yemenidjian honored at ArmenBar conference

    Yeghiayan, Yemenidjian honored at ArmenBar conference

    http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-01-29-yeghiayan-yemenidjian-honored-at-armenbar-conference
    Published: Saturday January 29, 2011


    >From left: Vicken Simonian, Arda Yemenidjian and ArmenBar Chairman
    Edvin Minassian.

    Las Vegas, Nevada-Numerous attorneys, judges, law professors, and law
    students flocked to the newly renovated, elegant Tropicana Hotel and
    Casino in Las Vegas, as the Armenian Bar Association (ArmenBar)
    presented an outstanding group of legal experts on January 15.

    Vartkes Yeghiayan, who has gained acclaimed notoriety as a Genocide
    reparations pioneer, and Arda Yemenidjian, a community leader and
    philanthropist, received special recognition at a luncheon in their
    honor.

    "The quality of the speakers and the content of the lectures equaled
    or exceeded any program offered in the legal community," said Edvin
    Minassian, Chairman of ArmenBar. "We were extremely proud to have been
    able to present such a distinguished group of legal scholars to our
    members, and honor two of the finest members of our community," said
    Minassian.

    The event was held in the all new Tropicana Conference Center. The
    Tropicana is undergoing a $180 million renovation under the direction
    of new owner Alex Yemenidjian, and is on its way to re-establishing
    its reputation as a premiere Vegas destination. The newly remodeled
    guest rooms have received recognition as "Best in Class," and were
    given high marks by those in attendance. Features such as Nikki Beach,
    The Las Vegas Mob Experience, and a state-of-the-art sports book are
    just a few of the many new upcoming attractions at the hotel.

    Yeghiayan was introduced at the luncheon by U.S. Army Brigadier
    General and accomplished trial lawyer Mark MacCarley. He received the
    coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, the group's highest honor. Arda
    Yemenidjian was introduced by Vicken Simonian, past Chairman of
    ArmenBar, and received a Public Service Award. Both honorees were
    given a standing ovation.

    Garo Ghazarian, ArmenBar Vice-Chairman, and Dean of the Peoples
    College of Law, was the Master of Ceremonies at the luncheon.. The
    group was addressed by Chairman Minassian, Board members Hovanes
    Margarian and John Lulejian and the Honorable Raffi K. Hovannisian.

    Hovannisian is the founding father of ArmenBar, the first Foreign
    Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the first Diasporan Armenian
    to become a member of the Armenian Parliament as the head of the
    Heritage party. His words regarding the honorees and the organization
    were thoughtful, inspirational and moving.

    Preeminent attorney Yeghiayan was joined by law professor Michael
    Bazyler, federal court international litigation expert Lee
    Crawford-Boyd and Setrak Davuthan, a prominent community attorney for
    Turkish Armenians. Two topics were presented as part of the program,
    including "Legal Remedies, restitution or monetary compensation for
    the dispossession of Armenians of pre-Genocide communal and private
    property in their homeland" and "Current State of Legal Affairs
    involving Armenians in Turkey." Attorneys attending the event earned
    four units of continuing legal education credits.

    The legal remedies discussion was moderated by Yeghiayan and included
    Bazyler, a Chapman University School of Law professor and
    Crawford-Boyd. Bazyler is a leading authority on the use of the
    American and European courts to redress genocide and other historical
    wrongs.

    Boyd is of counsel with the law firm of Howarth & Smith in Los
    Angeles. She is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School teaching
    international law, complex litigation and human rights. As a
    litigation consultant, she specializes in federal court complex cases
    and international relations.

    The panelists discussed the wide array of Genocide aftermath
    recoveries, including lawsuits against insurance companies, European
    banks, companies that employed slave labor, museums who hold looted
    artwork and governments holding improperly seized land. Past and
    current cases involving Holocaust and Genocide claims were discussed,
    including legislation to extend the statute of limitations.

    Also addressing the audience was Loyola law professor Stan Goldman.
    Goldman teaches a class at Loyola, with Bazyler, on post-Genocide
    remedies. He is the faculty advisor to the Loyola Armenian Law
    Students Association.

    The discussion regarding the state of legal affairs involving
    Armenians in Turkey was delivered by Davuthan. He is a lawyer for the
    foundations of the Armenian community in Istanbul. He led the
    precedent setting legal effort for Armenian Foundations in Istanbul
    before the European Court of Human Rights, successfully recovering
    real property seized in 1936 from Samatya Surp (Saint) Kevork Armenian
    Church Trust and the Surp Pirgic Yedikule Hospital Foundation.
    Davuthan has represented the community in a diverse number of cases
    including the rights of Turkish Armenians to elect a new Patriarch and
    the rights of children of Armenian citizens to attend private schools
    in Turkey.

    He discussed these issues, and the challenges of litigating civil
    rights cases for minority class citizens of Turkey.

    Yeghiayan was responsible for initiating, and was lead counsel, in the
    landmark case of Marootian v. New York Life. The class action lawsuit
    sought to recover life insurance proceeds relating to victims of the
    Armenian Genocide. The case resulted in a $20 million dollar
    settlement, and touched off a series of cases involving recovery of
    Genocide-related claims. He is currently involved in a case against
    the Turkish government and two Turkish banks to recover $63 million
    dollars for land improperly seized from Armenians during the Genocide,
    including land which is currently occupied by the strategic Incirlik
    airbase utilized by the U.S. military.

    Arda Yemenidjian is the wife of Alex Yemenidjian, the former CEO of
    MGM Studios and current owner of the Tropicana.Arda is one of the
    first students of the Ferrahian high school in Encino, the first
    Armenian school in California. She has been involved in the legal
    field for many years, managing the Law Office of Terenik Koujakian,
    her brother. She has been involved with a number of Armenian charities
    and non-profit organizations, donating her time and resources to
    worthy Armenian causes.




    From: A. Papazian
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