On Board a . 181 S. Old Woodward Ave. (1 Blk. S. of Maple, Next to the Birmingham Theatre) Mon. - Sat. 9:30.5:30 (248) 642.1690 ARNOLD LINCOLN-MERCURY-MAZDA Drive East Pay The Least mama LINCOLN PASSION FOR THE ROADTM' Mercury it GIL PRATT Leasing Manager Your West Side Specialist (810) 445-6000 Gratiot Ave. at 12 Mile Road Roseville, MI 48066 Fax (810) 771-7340 DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 2/6 1998 14 J CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! Call (248)354-5959 Michigan has joined other states in investigating insurance companies that may have sold bad policies to Jews in Nazi-era Europe. JULIE EDGAR News Editor id ichigan's insurance bureau has joined a nationwide investigation of European insurance companies that may have sold fraudu- lent insurance policies to Jews during the Nazi era. Whether the investigation will bear fruit is a big question mark; it already has bumped into difficulties locating survivors who can remember owning policies, the legality of investigating companies located abroad and the logistics of tracking old records. In mid-January, Kurt Gallinger, first deputy commissioner of the Michigan Insurance Bureau, attended a meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in Washington, D.C. A working group of the NAIC, led by Washington State Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn, is at the beginning of an investigation of American affiliates of European insur- ance companies that may have sold policies to Jews between 1933 and „ 1945. Twenty other states have joined the NAIC investigation. Gallinger noted that the investiga- tion is weighted with a "huge set of issues," among them a chilly reception by the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., which has been asked to supply a mailing list of sur- vivors in the United States. The NAIC would like to ask survivors if they had policies in Europe or might know of others who did. "The museum and some of the local groups associated with the muse- um would prefer to work on a more local basis and do their own internal mailings," Gallinger said. He acknowl- edged that a few NAIC commissioners were rebuffed in their approach to gathering information "because the information about names and address- es is sensitive. There's a mistrust of government." Then there are the legalities and logistics of pursuing records that origi- nate at overseas companies. "In Washington, we had representa- tives from European insurers speak to Washington State-certified insurance companies are connected to European firms with "immense holdings" in the United States. The next meeting of the NAIC is scheduled in March, in Utah. Gallinger, who plans to attend, said Michigan's next step may be a formal outreach program to find Holocaust survivors who may own outstanding insurance policies. "The more we attended the [NAIC] meetings, the more we began to believe that our inquiry is how can we make information available to Michigan citizens of this poli- cy-holder concern or potential policy-holder concern. It is something within our grasp to effect," he said. State Rep. David Gubow, D-Huntington Woods, the chairman of the State House Insurance Committee, already has met with several Canada- based insurance companies that once had European affiliates. "I've developed a relation- ship with these companies, along with their representatives in Michigan. Whether the insurance commissioner gets involved or not, we do have the opportunity — either by way of holding committee hearings or just in private meetings — to look into these issues," Gubow said. He said there are European- ci\ Rep. David Gubow is interested in helping Holocaust survivors cash in on outstanding insur- based companies located in Michigan, including Jackson ance policies. National Life, which is owned by a British company. Generali representatives spoke to the Any investigation, whether it is commissioners in Washington last through the NAIC or the state legisla- month about the effects of the compa- ture, won't be easy, Gubow said. ny's nationalization after World War II "You've got to identify whether and its attempts to make reparations there are policies that were written. to policy-holders. The company does Then you've got to determine if bene- not have an affiliate in Michigan, fitswere paid and to whom they were Gallinger said. paid. Hopefully, the companies would There has been some progress in be somewhat cooperative with regard finding Holocaust survivors in to the records they have. [But,] you've Washington State who remember got proof problems as well." owning insurance policies in Europe, He said he has not heard from any according to a member of Insurance citizens who may be affected. [I Commissioner Senn's staff. Jim Stevenson also noted that some us about outreach efforts they're involved in and to tell regulators here some concerns they have about access to records in European jurisdictions. That necessarily leads the group into many legal issues," Gallinger said. The NAIC believes there are 11 to 13 European companies that may have outstanding obligations to policy- holders, but only one — the Italian Generali Company — has an affiliate that is licensed in the United States.