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fineartregistry's Homepage http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:49 EST Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:49 EST Zorpia.com Art Forensics #5: http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938508 <h3 style="margin: 5px 0px;">Forensics and the Fingerprints of the Artist</h3>by <a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/daab_john/">Dr. John Daab CFE, CFC</a>, for Fine Art RegistryÂ® <br /> <br /> <br /> <h5>Read articles in the series here:<br /> <a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/fine-art-forensics/art-investigation-forensics.php?cp=322">Art Forensics #1 - Introduction: Forensic Science under Attack by NAS</a><br /> <a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/fine-art-forensics/art-forensic-science-and-provenance-research.php?cp=322">Art Forensics #2 - Forensic Science and Provenance Research: Questioned Documents</a><br /> <a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/fine-art-forensics/handwriting-analysis.php?cp=322">Art Forensics #3 - Handwriting Analysis</a><br /> <a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/fine-art-forensics/forensic-linguistics.php?cp=322">Art Forensics #4 - Forensic Linguistics</a></h5> <br /> <br /> <h3>Introduction</h3> <p>Fingerprint match evidence is recognized by the legal system as one of the strongest elements in establishing the guilt or innocence of a person charged with a crime. If a person's print is on a piece of real evidence such as a gun, knife, or the steering wheel of a getaway car, it is generally accepted that the person was involved in the crime. The foundation for the <a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/fine-art-forensics/art-investigation-forensics.php?cp=322">forensic science</a> of <a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/fine-art-forensics/art-forensic-science-and-provenance-research.php?cp=322">fingerprint analysis</a> comes from its longevity of use without oppositional findings questioning its reliability. One hundred years without being proven false is accepted by the court system as the smoking gun in proving guilt or innocence. It is further bolstered by the belief that no two fingerprints are alike, and if a match is found, logic propels the conclusion that it could not be the case that someone else has a similar print and could be the guilty party. It has been noted that even identical twins do not have matching prints.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/fine-art-forensics/forensics-and-fingerprints-of-artists.php">Read the Entire Article Here </a><br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938508 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:54 EST Breaking News from Some Current and... http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938507 <h1>former Park West Gallery Employees</h1> <p>Former <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/park-west-at-sea/">Park West Gallery employees</a> and those with insider knowledge into the Gallery's underbelly have shared some very interesting information regarding the current state of affairs at Park West Gallery and we believe it is important to share the latest with our readers. It bears repeating that the individuals reporting to us insisted on anonymity for fear of repercussions from Park West Gallery and with good reason. The more Fine Art RegistryÂ® reports these things, the more rabid the representatives and lawyers of Park West Gallery become. However, it should be pointed out that the information presented here comes from very reliable sources within Park West Gallery.</p> <h2 style="margin-bottom: 5px;">THE LATEST</h2> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); margin: 10px; padding: 0pt 20px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);" id="alttext"> <p>"Park West has <strong><u>ordered</u></strong> ALL OLD MASTER works of art <strong><u>OFF of ALL ships</u></strong> worldwide immediately. Specifically, any works with signatures by ANY Master (Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Rembrandt, etc.) These are to include works such as Zami Steynovitz as well. Anything with a signature is being removed! Some ships have returned over 100+ works of art to the Park west Gallery Miami Lakes warehouse. They are leaving the animation signatures and sports signatures (Muhammed Ali) on board.</p> <p>I am sure you can see right thru this move. They [Park West Gallery] are paranoid about signature works being on ships right now...interesting!"</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/10/park-west-gallerys-picasso-barcelona-suite-lithographs-breaking-news.php">Read the Entire Article Here </a><br /></p> </div> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938507 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:41 EST Park West Gallery Caught http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938506 <h1>Between a Rock and a Hard Place?</h1> <h2>More Litigation Updates</h2> <h3>Is Park West Gallery attempting to cut its captive self-proclaimed DalÃ authenticator, Bernard Ewell, adrift?</h3> <br /> <br /> <img width="250" height="167" align="right" style="margin-left: 10px;" alt="Park West Gallery, Bernard Ewell litigation update" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/09/park-west-litigation/ewell-litigation-update.jpg" /> <h4><u>Up a Creek Without a Paddle</u></h4> <p>On September 19, 2009, Park West Gallery filed a Motion to Sever Bernard Ewell from the Federal litigation. What is a Motion to Sever and what does all this mean? In general, a Motion to Sever a party (in this case Ewell) from a lawsuit entails asking a Judge for one case to be divided into two different cases so they can be tried separately. This is never efficient for the courts or for the parties involved. But this is precisely the type of underhanded tactics that Park West Gallery has employed from the beginning.</p> <p>Fine Art RegistryÂ® believes that Park West Gallery has a specific strategic reason for pulling this latest legal maneuver and it's not what you might think. Remember, nothing is as it seems with Park West Gallery, and its lawyers are always scrambling to dream up creative ways to intimidate, and spend to death, anyone who opposes them. They figure the more they can get people to jump through their endless dreamed-up legal hoops, the better chance they have of breaking them financially and shutting them up. And trust us when we say that Park West and its lawyers blur the line between fact and fiction in the extreme.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/09/park-west-gallery-bernard-ewell-litigation-update.php">Read the entire Article Here </a><br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938506 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:39 EST The Descharnes' Undying Commitment... http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938504 <h1 style="line-height: 24px;"> to Salvador Dali</h1> <h2>Protecting the Reputation of the Life's Work of the Artist for Well Over Half a Century </h2> <p class="mini">by Theresa Franks for Fine Art RegistryÂ®</p> <br /> <p>Salvador Dali created a foundation for himself in Spain with the directive to:</p> <div align="center" style="border: 0px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); padding: 0px 15px 10px; font-family: arial,helvetics,tahoma,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 102, 153);"> <img width="30" height="30" align="left" src="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/media/quote-open.gif" /><br /> promote, encourage, popularize, <strong><u>honor</u></strong>, and <strong><u>defend</u></strong> within the Spanish territory, <img width="30" height="30" align="right" style="margin-top: 5px;" src="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/media/quote-close.gif" /> <strong><u>as well as in other countries</u></strong>, the artistic, cultural and intellectual works of Salvador Dali. </div> <br /> <p>For decades Robert Descharnes has seriously pursued Dali's decree to "honor" and "defend" the artist's body of work. There is no one that can dispute that Robert Descharnes was more than a secretary to the great painter. He was a cherished friend.</p> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); margin: 0px 80px; padding: 0px 20px;" id="alttext"> <div align="center"> <img width="445" height="500" border="0" style="margin-top: 10px;" alt="Robert Descharnes and Salvador Dali - 2009 Â© DESCHARNES (daliphoto.com)" src="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/articles/2009/10/dali-descharnes/dali-robert-descharnes.jpg" /><br /> </div> <p>Face Ã face, Robert Descharnes et Salvador DalÃ tenant respectivement un oursin et une corne de rhinocÃ©ros d'Asie, deux emblÃ¨mes du film L'Histoire prodigieuse de la DentelliÃ¨re et du RhinocÃ©ros, Paris, Hotel Meurice 1957.</p> <p>Face to face, Robert Descharnes and Salvador Dali holding respectively a sea urchin and an Asian rhinoceros horn, two (emblÃ¨mes) of the film "The Prodigious Adventure of the Lacemaker and the Rhinoceros", Paris, Hotel Meurice 1957.</p> <p>Courtesy Â© 2009 Descharnes & Descharnes sarl / <a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/daliphoto.com?cp=Descharnes');" target="_blank" href="http://daliphoto.com/">daliphoto.com</a></p> </div><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/articles/2009/10/descharnes-undying-commitment-to-salvador-dali.php">Read the Entire Article Here </a><br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1938504 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:34 EST More on the Inadequacies of Bernard Ewell Straig.. http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1929400 <div align="center" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); padding: 10px 15px; font-family: arial,helvetics,tahoma,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 102, 153); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);"> <em>"Albert, we make daily use of your <u>Catalog</u> and I consider it <u>a critical tool</u>."</em> <br /><span style="font-size: 13px;">- Bernard Ewell, June 1997</span> </div> <br /> <p>Throughout the Fine Art RegistryÂ® <a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/FAR?lp=CruiseAuctions');" target="_blank" href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/far_investigates/art-auction-investigation.php">investigation into cruise ship art auctions</a>, and in particular, the bad business practices of Park West Gallery, representatives of Park West have repeatedly (when it is convenient for them to do so) through varying media attempted to defame, slander, disparage, decimate, and lay waste to the good name and reputation of Albert Field, Founder and Director of the Salvador Dali Archives in New York and author of "The Official Catalog of the Graphic Works of Salvador Dali". One of the Park West Gallery representatives leading the charge against Albert Field and his successor, Frank Hunter, is <a class="tcolor" href="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/articles/2009/08/inadequacy-of-bernard-ewells-expertise-on-dali-graphics-according-to-albert-field.php">Bernard Ewell</a>, an appraiser and his own biggest fan.</p> <p>To illustrate, we set forth a few of the recent offending quotes written by Ewell about Albert Field and taken straight from his blog which, by the way, is prominently linked to and promoted by his lord and master's web site, Park West Gallery:</p> <ul><li class="lks2">"Albert Field's bogus 'Salvador DalÃ Archives' and massively flawed files."</li><li class="lks2">"Albert Field and head of the sham Salvador DalÃ Archives."</li><li class="lks2">"A future posting will take a close look at 'The Tragedy of Albert Field and His Scatalog of DalÃ Prints'."</li><li class="lks2">"...the very shaky credibility of Albert Field, [and] his scatalog...."</li><li class="lks2">"...Albert Field's flawed files."</li><li class="lks2">"...if you, like me, had known Albert Field, visited his squalid apartment in Astoria, New York (the archives) and watched him examine a print attributed to DalÃ without having any of the skill to know what he was looking at."</li></ul><a href="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/articles/2009/09/more-on-the-inadequacies-of-bernard-ewell-according-to-albert-field.php?cp=F01T">Read the Entire Article Here</a><br /> Photography & Art http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1929400 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:46 EST Park West Gallery's not-so-flattering Exhibit: I.. http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1929381 <h2>The National Law Journal - Law.com</h2> <br /> <div align="center"> <a href="http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202433582432&Customers_cry_fake_and_art_dealer_yells_defamation" target="_blank" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.law.com');"><img width="500" height="260" border="0" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/09/law-com/park-west-gallery-lawsuits.jpg" alt="Park West Gallery's not-so-flattering Exhibit: Its Growing Lawsuit Collection" /></a><br /> </div> <p>On Thursday, September 3, 2009, Law.com - The National Law Journal published an article about the growing lawsuit collection against Michigan-based Park West Gallery. <strong>Read the full story online at <a href="http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202433582432&Customers_cry_fake_and_art_dealer_yells_defamation" target="_blank" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.law.com');">Law.com</a></strong></p> <div id="alttext" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); margin: 10px; padding: 0pt 20px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);"> <p><font color="#000000"><strong>Customers cry "fake," and art dealer yells "defamation"</strong><br /> Tresa Baldas - The National Law Journal</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">A Michigan-based art gallery has a not-so-flattering exhibit that keeps growing: a collection of lawsuits... <a href="http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202433582432&Customers_cry_fake_and_art_dealer_yells_defamation" target="_blank" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.law.com');">read more</a></font></p> </div> <br /> <h2>Park West Gallery's Dancing Bear</h2> <h4>The Ever Expanding Park West Gallery Lawsuit Collection</h4> <p>The National Law Journal just published an article written by Tresa Baldas, highlighting the <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/park-west-gallery-lawsuits/">many lawsuits recently filed against Park West Gallery</a>, its CEO Albert Scaglione, and his Empire of companies. It is interesting to note that in the many articles that have exposed Park West Gallery over the last two years or more, we rarely seem to hear from the man himself, Albert Scaglione, except for the comment in the NY Times article which we are sure he would just as soon everyone forget. Like the Wizard of Oz, he hides behind the curtain. Granted, this is a law related article and it only makes sense to quote the attorneys representing the respective parties, but Bob Goldman (an ex-criminal prosecutor) and Park West Gallery's Public Relations spokesman (the Dancing Bear - a front man), is far from being the gallery's "lead" attorney in the case. As far as we can deduce, Goldman was hired solely to tout his "ex-assistant U.S. Attorney status" to give Park West the appearance of having an "important" legal team and to fool the public into believing that Goldman has some sort of "status" with Federal authorities and that somehow his involvement absolves Park West from any appearance of wrong doing, but don't let that fool you for a minute. It's all smoke and mirrors folks. Fine Art RegistryÂ® knows the truth.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/09/national-law-journal-reports-on-park-west-gallery-lawsuit-collection.php?cp=F01T">Read the Entire Article Here </a><br /></p> Photography & Art http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1929381 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:37 EST The Park West Gallery Gang Smacked.... http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1926704 <h1 style="line-height: 24px;">with Another<br /> Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit</h1> <h2>NO. 6 AND COUNTING</h2> <br /> <a class="altlink" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/pdf/Mullen-v-PWG');" target="_blank" href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/08/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit/mullen-v-park-west-gallery.pdf"><img width="170" height="219" border="0" align="right" style="margin-left: 10px;" alt="Complaint, Class Action Lawsuit #6 against Park West Gallery (PDF)" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/08/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit/mullen-v-park-west-gallery.gif" /></a><br /> <p>On July 24, 2009, Plaintiff Sean Mullen brought a lawsuit in Michigan Federal Court in what amounts to the <strong><u>sixth</u></strong> nationwide <a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/pdf/Mullen-v-PWG');" target="_blank" href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/08/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit/mullen-v-park-west-gallery.pdf">class action lawsuit filed against Park West Gallery</a> <img width="14" height="14" align="bottom" alt="PDF" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/media/pdf.gif" /> and all its various affiliates including, PWG Florida, Fine Art Sales, Vista Fine Art, and Park West at Sea. Rounding out the named Park West Gallery defendants in the Mullen lawsuit is Park West Gallery CEO Albert Scaglione who is alleged by Mullen to be "the prime architect of the fraud and conspiracy." Other named defendants include Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Carnival Cruise Lines. The Mullen lawsuit is provided here in its entirety.</p> <p>Sean Mullen resides in Washington, D.C. He purchased artwork from Park West at shipboard auctions on a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2003 and a Holland America cruise in 2005. Mullen alleges that "because of the illegal actions of Defendants, the art auctions...were anything but fun, and Plaintiff and the Class...lost millions of dollars as a result of purchasing works of 'art' on the Cruise Lines."</p><p> </p><p><a href="Read%20the%20Entire%20Article%20Here%20">Read the Entire Article Here </a><br /></p> Photography & Art http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1926704 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:10 EST Cruise Passenger Told To Leave In Art Auction Ro.. http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922770 <h3>The Independent (UK)</h3> <h4>Art - Cruise passenger told to leave in art auction row</h4> <h5>American teacher, Mark Jacobs, was ejected from his 12 day cruise with Royal Caribbean in Oslo, Norway port for critizing onboard Park West Gallery art auction. Cahal Milmo reports for the UK newspaper, The Independent.</h5> <div align="center"> <img height="300" border="0" width="400" style="margin-bottom: 5px;" alt="Cruise passenger, Mark Jacobs, eject from Royal Caribbean cruise ships for critizing onboard Park West Gallery art auction" src="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/images/the-independent/mark-jacobs-1.jpg" /><br /> <img height="300" border="0" width="400" style="margin-bottom: 5px;" alt="Cruise passenger, Mark Jacobs, eject from Royal Caribbean cruise ships for critizing onboard Park West Gallery art auction" src="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/images/the-independent/mark-jacobs-2.jpg" /><br /> <img height="300" border="0" width="400" style="margin-bottom: 5px;" alt="Cruise passenger, Mark Jacobs, eject from Royal Caribbean cruise ships for critizing onboard Park West Gallery art auction" src="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/images/the-independent/mark-jacobs-3.jpg" /><br /> </div> <p><strong>July 18, 2009 The Independent.   </strong> <br />Read the news article online here <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outgoing/independent.com.uk?lp=MJacobs');" target="_blank" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/cruise-passenger-told-to-leave-in-art-auction-row-1765688.html">The Independent</a>.</p><p> <br /> <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outgoing/independent.com.uk?lp=MJacobs');" target="_blank" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/cruise-passenger-told-to-leave-in-art-auction-row-1765688.html"><img height="260" border="0" width="550" alt="Cruise passenger told to leave in art auction row - The Independent, Art" src="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/images/the-independent/cruise-passenger-art-auction.gif" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/cruise-passenger-told-to-leave-in-art-auction-row-the-independent-uk.php?cp=F01T">See the entie article here </a><br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922770 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:17 EST Class Action Lawsuit No. 5 Filed Against At Sea... http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922769 <h2>Or the Park West Gallery Lawsuit Collection</h2> <br /> <a class="altlink" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/pdf/Hatter-v-PWG');" target="_blank" href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit/hatter-v-park-west-gallery.pdf"><img height="219" border="0" align="right" width="170" style="margin-left: 10px;" alt="Complaint, Class Action Lawsuit #5 against Park West Gallery (PDF)" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit/hatter-v-park-west-gallery.gif" /></a><br /> <p>On July 29, 2009, nationwide class action lawsuit No. 5 was filed against <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/04/another-class-action-lawsuit-against-park-west-gallery-park-west-at-sea.php">Park West Gallery</a> and its affiliates (PWG Florida, Fine Art Sales, Vista Fine Art, and Park West at Sea). Also named personally for his active involvement with the alleged deceptive and fraudulent schemes and practices is <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/a-tsunami-of-class-action-lawsuits-filed-against-park-west-gallery.php">Park West Gallery's CEO Albert Scaglione</a>. Also being sued this time around is Carnival Corporation, Carnival plc, and Carnival Cruise Line.</p> <p>It won't be long before the "<a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/cruise-art-auction-buyers-sue-park-west-gallery-and-royal-caribbean-cruises.php?cp=310">Park West Gallery Lawsuit Collection</a>" will rival the Park West Gallery art collection. Perhaps Al Scaglione and Morris Shapiro should print a few thousand copies of these lawsuits, hand sign them, and start selling them on the cruise ships as "unique variations", embellished of course with dibs and dabs of misrepresentation, lies, and deceit - and self-appraised by Al and Morry, too. What a deal!</p> <p><a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/pdf/Hatter-v-PWG');" target="_blank" href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit/hatter-v-park-west-gallery.pdf">Class action lawsuit No. 5</a> <img height="14" align="bottom" width="14" alt="PDF" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/media/pdf.gif" /> filed on behalf of Plaintiffs Donald and Joyce Hatter of Lincroft, New Jersey, and others similarly situated, comes hot on the on the heels of <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/a-tsunami-of-class-action-lawsuits-filed-against-park-west-gallery.php">the July 22, 2009 class action lawsuit filed</a> on behalf of Plaintiffs Bruce and Patricia Alleman of Waukegan, Illinois, as well as other plaintiffs who find themselves in the same position. The 55+ page lawsuit is provided here on <a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/FAR?cp=Hatter-v-PWG');" target="_blank" href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/">Fine Art RegistryÂ®</a> in its entirety along with supporting exhibits.</p> <p>Class action lawsuit No. 5 was filed by lawyers E. Powell Miller and Marc L. Newman of <em>The Miller Law Firm, P.C.</em>, and Steven A. Schwartz of <em>Chimicles & Tikellis, LLP.</em> Also of counsel are Denise Davis Schwartzman and Kimberly A. Sanders of the same firm.</p> <p>The latest lawsuit alleges that Park West Gallery and its affiliates under the control and direction of CEO Albert Scaglione, "voluntarily and knowingly joined and conspired" with Carnival Corporation (Carnival Cruise Line and related entities) "to feature the Park West art auctions on its cruises." All of them acting in a "scheme as alleged" which "<a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/parkwest-class-action-suit.php">violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act ('RICO')</a>, 18 U.S.C. Â§ 1961, et seq., and the state common and statutory laws entitling Plaintiffs and the Class to damages."</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-park-west-gallery-5.php?cp=F01T">Read the entire article here </a><br /></p> News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922769 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:15 EST Curiosity Cuts Man's Family Cruise Short http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922768 <h3>The Journal News - New York's Lower Hudson Valley</h3> <h4>Curiosity Cuts Man's Family Cruise Short</h4> <h5>New York resident removed from Royal Caribbean cruise ship in Norway over Park West Gallery art auction critisim. Robert Marchant reports on the man, Mark Jacobs, who was escorted by Oslo Police off the cruise ship, seperated from his family who stayed aboard, and left in foreign country.</h5> <p><strong>July 30, 2009 - LoHud.com   </strong> <br />Read the news article online here <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outgoing/lohud.com');" target="_blank" href="http://www.lohud.com/article/2009907300379">LoHud.com</a>.</p><p> <br /> <a onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outgoing/lohud.com');" target="_blank" href="http://www.lohud.com/article/2009907300379"><img height="260" border="0" width="550" alt="Curiosity cuts man's family cruise short - New York, The Journal News, Lower Hudson Valley" src="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/images/lohud/man-kicked-off-cruise-park-west-gallery.jpg" /></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/curiosity-cuts-mans-family-cruise-short-over-park-west-gallery-art-auction-lohud.php?cp=F01T">Read the entire article here</a> <br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922768 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:14 EST New York Resident Removed from Royal Caribbean.... http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922767 <h1 class="bordbottom" style="margin-bottom: 5px;">Press Release</h1> <br /> <div>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</div> <div align="right"> For more information contact:<br /> Mark Jacobs<br /> 914-382-7539<br /> <a href="mailto:mark@longviewschool.org?subject=FAR_Press">mark@longviewschool.org</a> </div> <h3 align="center"><strong>New York Resident Removed from Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship <br />for Criticizing Art Auction Practices</strong></h3> <p><strong>(Oslo, Norway â€” 28 July 2009)</strong>   Mark Jacobs, 41, U.S. citizen and resident of Garrison returns to New York after Royal Caribbean forcibly removed him from its Jewel of the Seas cruise ship. Jacobs was left at the Oslo, Norway port on July 26, forcing him to find his way to England where he reunited with his family today for their scheduled return flight to JFK airport. His wife, Elena Pousada, and his two children, Jessica, 15, and Ben, 12, stayed on board in order not to have to pay extra to return to England.</p> <p>Park West Galleries runs art auctions on over 80 cruise ships working as a contractor for a variety of cruise lines. On this particular 12-day cruise, Park West is running three art auctions on days when the ship is at sea in international waters. Jacobs attended the first auction on July 18, and became concerned that the claims of the auctioneer might not be wholly accurate. Using on-line searching, he found that there were lawsuits and class action suits in addition to many individual stories regarding people being duped by Park West. Jacobs says, "Even though I have never bid at a Park West auction, I became concerned for my fellow vacationers. When I heard there would be two more auctions, I felt I had to let people know about Park West's track record."</p> <p>On July 25, Jacobs compiled information from on-line sources and drew up a one-page fact sheet (<a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/removed-from-royal-caribbean-cruise-for-criticizing-art-auction-practices.php?cp=F01T#factsheet">*see below</a>). "I wanted people to know about the lawsuits and accusations of forgery, fraud and inflated valuations so that they could decide for themselves before bidding. I also wanted them to understand that typical consumer protection laws might not apply in international waters," said Jacobs. He printed about 50 copies and distributed these to registered bidders prior to the second auction.</p> <p>Later that day, Jacobs was summoned to a meeting with the ship's Hotel Director Rodney Darwin and Staff Captain Aladin Hafez. He was told that he would be removed from the ship on the following day at the next stop, Oslo, Norway.</p> <p>Jacobs said "I was quite surprised, especially since they could point to no rule I had broken. I guess freedom of speech is not protected on Royal Caribbean cruises."</p> <p>At 3:30pm Oslo time on July 26, ship security requested that Mr. Jacobs voluntarily leave the ship. He refused. Oslo police were brought onto the ship and they informed Jacobs that, regardless of what actually happened on the ship, the police would remove him from the ship at the request of the captain. Jacobs was escorted off the ship by Oslo police.</p> <p>Jacobs is a teacher at and co-founder of Longview School in Cortlandt Manor.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartregistry.com/mediacenter/2009/removed-from-royal-caribbean-cruise-for-criticizing-art-auction-practices.php?cp=F01T">Read the entire article here </a><br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922767 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:09 EST A Tsunami of Class Action lawsuits filed Against.. http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922763 <p>On July 22, 2009, a fourth <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/04/another-class-action-lawsuit-against-park-west-gallery-park-west-at-sea.php?cp=310">class action lawsuit</a> was filed in the United States District Court in Michigan against the self-proclaimed "largest art gallery on the planet," Park West Galleries, Inc., <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/parkwest-class-action-suit.php?cp=310">Park West Gallery</a>, PWG Florida, Inc. which does business as Fine Art Sales, Inc., Vista Fine Art, LLC. dba Park West at Sea, Albert Scaglione and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.</p> <p>The whopping <a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/pdf/Alleman-v-PWG?cp=310');" target="_blank" href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit/alleman-v-park-west-gallery.pdf?cp=310">68-page complaint</a> <img height="14" align="bottom" width="14" alt="PDF" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/media/pdf.gif" />, a copy of which is provided here on Fine Art RegistryÂ® in its entirety sets forth the most scathing allegations yet against the beleaguered art peddler and particularity slams Park West Gallery's CEO Albert Scaglione as well as <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/cruise-art-auction-buyers-sue-park-west-gallery-and-royal-caribbean-cruises.php?cp=310">Royal Caribbean</a>.</p> <p>The law firms of Chimicles & Tikellis LLP (Haverford, Pennsylvania) and The Miller Law Firm, P.C. (Rochester, Michigan) who filed the complaint on behalf of Plaintiffs Bruce and Patricia Alleman are congratulated for having done their homework. Fine Art Registry can confirm through documented evidence that many of the <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/05/park-west-gallery-motion-to-transfer-class-action-lawsuits-to-michigan.php?cp=310">allegations set forth in the complaint</a> are true and precisely accurate on a variety of levels.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/a-tsunami-of-class-action-lawsuits-filed-against-park-west-gallery.php?cp=F01T">Read the entire Article Here </a><br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922763 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:01 EST On Video - Park West Auctioneer Misrepresents Da.. http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922761 <br /> <h3 style="line-height: 20px;">We were recently sent the following link to a video of part of a Park West auction on <em>Enchantment of the Seas</em><br /> (Royal Caribbean) by an attendee who happens to be a Dali collector. This video was shot on July 19 2009.</h3> <div align="center"><br /> <h4 style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">Park West Dali</h4> Video Length 0:50   |   <a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/sharing.theflip.com?PWGartauctionRCvideo');" target="_blank" class="tcolor" href="http://sharing.theflip.com/session/8df07f7f4d334f132995d34c91c2c359/video/5171749"><strong>Click here to watch</strong></a><br /> <a onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/sharing.theflip.com?PWGartauctionRCvideo');" target="_blank" href="http://sharing.theflip.com/session/8df07f7f4d334f132995d34c91c2c359/video/5171749"><img height="334" border="0" width="400" style="margin-top: 10px;" alt="Video of part of a Park West auction on Enchantment of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) by an attendee, video shot on July 19, 2009" src="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-gallery-art-auction/park-west-art-auction-video.jpg" /></a><br /><br /> </div><p> <a href="http://www.salvadordalifakes.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-gallery-art-auction-on-video-misrepresents-dali-prints.php?cp=F01T">Watch the Entire Video here </a><br /></p> News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1922761 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:59 EST 86-year Old Victim of Park West Gallery... http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1918777 <h1>Park West at Sea and Celebrity Cruise Line Art Auction Fraudulent Misrepresentation and Deceptive Trade Practices</h1><p> </p><h2>Mr. & Mrs. John Pfingsten</h2><p> </p><h2 align="center"><img height="285" width="400" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-gallery-art-auction-fraud/john-pfingsten.jpg" alt="86-year Old Victim of Park West Gallery Art Auction Fraud, Mr. and Mrs. John Pfingsten" /></h2><p> </p><h3 style="line-height: 20px;">(This is another in a series of many case studies of reported fraudulent misrepresentation and deceptive trade practices at art auctions conducted at sea on cruise ships and the subsequent refusal by <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/case-studies/?cp=309">Park West Gallery</a> to provide customer services support. This one involves an 86-year old passenger on an anniversary cruise on the Celebrity <em>Millennium</em>.)</h3> <br /><br /> <h3 class="altcolor">Passenger / Customer </h3> <p style="margin-top: 0px;">Mr. & Mrs. John Pfingsten of Tampa, FL.</p> <h3 class="altcolor">Cruise line and ship and details of the cruise </h3> <p style="margin-top: 0px;">Celebrity <em>Millennium</em>, February 2008.</p> <h3 class="altcolor">Park West Auctioneer</h3> <p style="margin-top: 0px;">Natali Kenyon.</p> <h3 class="altcolor">What was bought?</h3> <p style="margin-top: 0px;">Over 30 pieces of artwork in total from Park West, not all on this cruise.</p> <p>An example of the purchases was a Peter Max print from his Patriotic series, <em>Five Liberties and Flag</em>, appraised internally by Park West for $6,200, sold to John Pfingsten for $3275. According to information provided by a source inside Park West, the cost of this print to Park West was between $380 and $680.</p> <h3 class="altcolor">Details of the Purchase</h3> <p style="margin-top: 0px;">The story is told by the Pfingstens' daughter, Suzanne, who has a power of attorney for her elderly father and who has tried and tried, so far in vain, to help her parents resolve their situation. Following is her general write-up of the case and all relevant documents.</p> <br /><div style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220);"> </div> <img height="30" align="left" width="30" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/images/quote-open.gif" /><br /> <div style="margin: 0px 35px;"> <p>To begin, my parents have been on a number of cruises in the past and have ordered and fully paid Park West Gallery over thousands of dollars for a number of art pieces.</p> <p>My parents' last cruise was in February, 2008 and my father said he does not recall ordering 21 pieces of art. He does recall having a full champagne glass during the auction.</p> <p>Park West communicated with me that my father is a valued customer. If my father was a valued customer, why have I been fighting for over one year for a resolution to the below matter?</p> <p><img height="30" align="right" width="30" src="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/images/quote-close.gif" /> It is hard to believe that after all the money my father has paid Park West Gallery for prior art, they cannot work with my 86 year old father.</p> </div><p><a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-celebrity-cruise-art-auction-fraud-and-depective-trade-practices.php?cp=F01T"> Read the Entire Story Here</a><br /></p> News & Sports http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1918777 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:34 EST Sandy Jeakins, a Victim of Park West Gallery and.. http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1918772 <h2><font size="5">A sequel to the case study on Sandy Jeakins published on the Fine Art Advocacyâ„¢ website</font></h2><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> <h3 style="line-height: 20px;"><font size="3">In February 2009 we published a case study of Sandy Jeakins, a victim of Park West Gallery aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship <font color="#1012ff"><u>Park West Gallery and Norwegian Cruise Line art auction fraud-Jeakins Case Study</u></font>. In this sequel we are publishing the events that have occurred since that case study was published, as Sandy continued to try to get her situation resolved with Park West Gallery, Norwegian Cruise Lines and her credit card company, Bank of America.</font></h3><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> <br /> <p>Sandy had purchased two Marcus Glenn prints on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise and, like many other customers of Park West Gallery, arrived home, researched what she had bought, and found out that she had paid far more for the pieces than they were worth. She tried to cancel the sale almost immediately and this was refused by <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/?cp=308">Park West</a>, even though the order had not even gone through and no merchandize had been shipped.</p> <p>Sandy appealed to Norwegian Cruise Lines and attempted to charge back the payment on her credit card. The following correspondence with Alice Cain-Moore, Manager of Customer Relations took place:</p><p> </p><div id="alttext" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); margin: 20px; padding: 0pt 20px;"> <p>From: "Cain-Moore, Alice" <acainmoore@ncl.com><br /> Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 17:24:22 -0500<br /> To: Sandy Jeakins<br /> CC: Laura Maki<lmaki@parkwestgallery.com><br /> Subject: Park West Refund</lmaki@parkwestgallery.com></acainmoore@ncl.com></p> <p>Dear Ms. Jeakins,</p> <p>Thank you for speaking with me yesterday regarding your art purchase. I have confirmed that Park West will be processing a refund in the amount of $2485.00, they will be forwarding to you directly a refund agreement for your signature. Upon return to them the refund will be processed and finalized.</p> <p>As confirmed we NCL will be extending as a gesture of goodwill a future cruise credit in the amount of $566.00 the difference which can be used on a future sailing with us.</p> <p>We appreciate being able to come to an amicable resolution on this matter and look forward to welcoming you aboard many future voyages.</p> <p>Sincerely,</p> <p>Alice Cain-Moore | Manager, Customer Relations<br /> acainmoore@ncl.com<br /> 305.436.4685 | fax 305.436.4108</p> </div><p> <a href="http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/2009/07/park-west-gallery-fraud-victim-sandy-jeakins-sequel.php?cp=F01T">Read the Entire Story Here</a><br /></p> Personal http://www.zorpia.com/fineartregistry/journal/1918772 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:26 EST