§ 354.4.Armenian Genocide Victim With Claim Arising Out of Insurance Purchased In Europe Or Asia Between 1875 and 1923

Title 2. Of the Time of Commencing Civil Actions · Chapter 4. General Provisions as to the Time of Commencing Actions · Last amended 2011 · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 354.4 lets Armenian Genocide victims and their heirs or beneficiaries sue on insurance policies purchased in Europe or Asia between 1875 and 1923, so long as the action was filed on or before December 31, 2016.

Full Text of § 354.4

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) The following definitions govern the construction of this section:

(1) "Armenian Genocide victim" means any person of Armenian or other ancestry living in the Ottoman Empire during the period of 1915 to 1923, inclusive, who died, was deported, or escaped to avoid persecution during that period.

(2) "Insurer" means an insurance provider doing business in the state, or whose contacts in the state satisfy the constitutional requirements for jurisdiction, that sold life, property, liability, health, annuities, dowry, educational, casualty, or any other insurance covering persons or property to persons in Europe or Asia at any time between 1875 and 1923.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any Armenian Genocide victim, or heir or beneficiary of an Armenian Genocide victim, who resides in this state and has a claim arising out of an insurance policy or policies purchased or in effect in Europe or Asia between 1875 and 1923 from an insurer described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), may bring a legal action or may continue a pending legal action to recover on that claim in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state, which court shall be deemed the proper forum for that action until its completion or resolution.

(c) Any action, including any pending action brought by an Armenian Genocide victim or the heir or beneficiary of an Armenian Genocide victim, whether a resident or nonresident of this state, seeking benefits under the insurance policies issued or in effect between 1875 and 1923 shall not be dismissed for failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitation, provided the action is filed on or before December 31, 2016.

(d) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

End

Plain-English Summary

Section 354.4 covers insurance policies sold to people in Europe or Asia between 1875 and 1923 by insurers with a presence or sufficient contacts in California. It lets an Armenian Genocide victim, or an heir or beneficiary of that victim, bring or continue an action in California to recover on those policies.

As with the other historical-claims sections in this chapter, the ordinary statute of limitations does not bar the claim, provided the action was filed on or before December 31, 2016. The section also states that its provisions are severable, so a court invalidating one part does not automatically void the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can descendants of Armenian Genocide victims sue on old insurance policies in California?

Yes, if the action was filed on or before December 31, 2016. Section 354.4 lets Armenian Genocide victims and their heirs or beneficiaries sue insurers on policies purchased in Europe or Asia between 1875 and 1923.

Does the statute of limitations bar these Armenian Genocide insurance claims?

Section 354.4 states the action shall not be dismissed for failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitation, as long as it was filed by the December 31, 2016 deadline.

What insurers are covered by § 354.4?

The section covers insurers doing business in California, or with contacts sufficient for jurisdiction, that sold life, property, liability, health, or other listed types of insurance in Europe or Asia between 1875 and 1923.

Amendment History

Amended by Stats 2011 ch 70 (AB 173),s 1, eff. 7/7/2011. Added by Stats 2000 ch 543 (SB 1915), s 2, eff. 9/18/2000.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the California Legislative Information. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: armenian genocide insurance lawsuit californiaarmenian genocide victim insurance claim deadline