Mich. suit claims $594K gallery art fraud

Published: Jan. 12, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Order reprints
DETROIT, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Some Michigan art collectors say they were swindled by a well-known Detroit-area gallery that allegedly sold them more than $594,000 in forged artwork.

The supposedly original artwork included signed lithographs that investors claim in a lawsuit are merely worthless "glorified posters," The Detroit News reported Monday.

The suit, filed in Oakland Circuit Court, alleges the artwork was purchased from Park West Galleries in Southfield, Mich. The investors claim much of the art was purchased by "unsophisticated" collectors during champagne auctions on cruise ships, the newspaper said.

The gallery boasts $300 million in annual revenue and about 300,000 sales a year, and denies the allegations.

"For over 40 years, Park West has serviced 1.2 million clients in gallery sales and sea auctions and stand behind the authenticity of everything we sell, including the works of art in this meritless lawsuit," Park West attorney Rodger Young told the News. "The allegations are easy to make and hard to prove, and we look forward to going before a Michigan jury."


© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Fruit, vegetable intake may reduce colds (2 min)
'Feeling' is No. 1 on U.S. record chart (7 min)
G8 agrees to work on trade matters (12 min)
Interagency law efforts nab 35K bad guys (13 min)
Internet, globalization shape new words (16 min)
Teacher allegedly attacked student (18 min)
Former chancellor charged in money scheme (21 min)
fark
When trying to get away from the police, driving off a boat launch only works on tv and the movies....
Sears, Kmart already selling Christmas merchandise
MoveOn.org draws a crowd of 30 demonstrators in Alabama. None miss work
People were looking for sexual favors on Craigslist in exchange for tickets to Michael Jackson's...
Toronto mayor tries to tell world everything is fine; cut off as press conference attacked by giant...
"If it weren't for overdraft fees, 45% of banks and credit unions wouldn't have made money in 2008"...