ASA Supports HEAR Act, Ready to Provide Assistance with Potential Claims

RESTON, Va. - April 29, 2016 - PRLog -- The American Society of Appraisers is pleased to announce its support for the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016, or HEAR Act. The bill, if passed, would address existing issues with state statutes of limitation that often preclude an otherwise valid claim to recover works of art that were illegally taken during the Nazi regime. In its place, claimants would have six years to bring an action once they discover the identity and location of the artwork, as well as facts to support a claim of possessory interest in the item. The bill would also allow claims that were dismissed due to a statute of limitations to be brought back before a court during the bill's effective period, which runs until 2026.

ASA believes this bill would provide claimants much needed consistency across states when seeking to bring a claim of possession of expropriated art, and allow those who had otherwise valid claims dismissed due to the passage of time alone another chance to seek redress. ASA's members are readily available to provide their expertise to those who believe they may have a claim. To find an accredited ASA appraiser who specializes in the type of artwork involved, call 1-800-ASA-VALU (1-800-272-8258) or use our Find an Appraiser feature at http://www.appraisers.org/find-an-appraiser.