A 7-2 Supreme Court yesterday decided that a federal district court has jurisdiction to consider, under an exception in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act for suits involving rights in immovable property in the United States, New York City’s lawsuit to establish the validity of tax liens against properties owned by two foreign governments and used to house lower level diplomatic employees. Permanent Mission of India to United Nations v. New York City, No. 06-134 (6/14/07) (The oral argument transcript is here.). Justice Thomas wrote the majority opinion; Justices Breyer and Stevens dissented. Blogosphere and MSM coverage:
