Owners’ Suit Over Art Seized in Switzerland Not Proper in U.S.

Owners of antique art who sued the government of Switzerland seeking the return of pieces seized as part of an ongoing criminal investigation had their suit properly dismissed, the Second Circuit said Tuesday.

Lynda and William Beierwaltes, who live in Colorado, and Hicham Aboutaam, who lives in New York, argued that U.S. courts had jurisdiction over their case under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act expropriation exception, because their property was taken in violation of international law.

The pieces were seized as part of an investigation into the illegal importation of ancient art into Switzerland, which is a public purpose that ...