Media Center & Press Room (2009 Archives) - Back to Current Media & Press

Michigan Appeals Court Orders Royal Caribbean Cruises Back Into Lawsuit as Co-Defendants with Park West Gallery, Sued by Dissatisfied Customers
An order issued by the Michigan Court of Appeals on 11 December 2009, effectively brought Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. as co-defendants with Park West Gallery, back into a court case from which they had been dismissed. The complaint against Royal Caribbean, Park West Gallery, its CEO Albert Scaglione, and gallery director Morris Shapiro, was filed in December 2008 by dissatisfied customers of Park West Gallery and Royal Caribbean cruises through the plaintiffs' Michigan attorneys, Kaufman, Payton and Chapa. It alleged violation of Michigan's warranty in fine arts statute, fraud, breach of contract, violation of the Michigan consumer protection act, violation of the Michigan art multiples sales act, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy and unjust enrichment. Two of the ten plaintiffs accused Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. of complicity in all of the charges against Park West Gallery.
Press Room, December 15, 2009

Park West Gallery "Throws in the Towel" in Defamation Case Against Two Customers Who Sued the Gallery for Fraud
On November 30th, 2009, Hon. Nanci J. Grant, Circuit Judge of Oakland, State of Michigan, ordered the dismissal with prejudice of Park West Gallery's Counter-Complaint against Counter-Defendants Julian Howard and Sharon Day after Park West Gallery attorneys approached counsel for Day and Howard, to announce the gallery's voluntary dismissal of the case (Case No. 08-096952-CZ).
Press Room, December 3, 2009

WBALTV Investigates Complaint about Park West Gallery Art Purchases by Fine Art Registry member Richard English
On 16 November 2009, WBALTV Baltimore aired an investigation into the purchase of a Salvador Dali print for $12,000 by Fine Art Registry member Richard English aboard the Carnival Miracle in July 2006, which was later examined by experts in Salvador Dali art and found to bear a forged signature and as such to have virtually no value. According to WBALTV, Park West Gallery offered to substitute Richard English's print with other art of similar value from their collections. Richard English declined.
Press Room, November 20, 2009

WBAL-TV Baltimore Airs Program about Victim of Questionable Park West Gallery Art
On November 16, 2009 the following program, by WBAL-TV Baltimore's I-Team, was aired in the Baltimore area. It concerns Fine Art Registry member, Richard English, and his purchase of a Salvador Dali print found by experts to carry a fake Dali signature
Media, November 18, 2009

Park West Gallery's not-so-flattering Exhibit - Its Growing Lawsuit Collection - The National Law Journal
The National Law Journal just published an article written by Tresa Baldas, highlighting the many lawsuits recently filed against Park West Gallery, 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.
Media, September 4, 2009

Expert, Bernard Ewell, Linked to Park West Gallery Accused of Defamation - The Detroit News
"An expert associated with a local art gallery has been named in a third-party complaint filed in U.S. District Court, accused of making "false and defamatory" statements against an Arizona art tagging operation. The suit alleges Bernard Ewell of Santa Fe, who works with Park West Gallery, "maintained a vicious attack on Fine Art Registry" through his Web site and blog..." - The Detroit News.
Media, September 4, 2009

Park West Gallery's Salvador Dali Expert, Bernard Ewell, Sued by Fine Art Registry for Defamation, Tortious Interference and Conspiracy with Park West
A Third Party Complaint was filed on 26 August 2009 against Bernard Ewell, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, an appraiser and self-styled expert in the works of Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali, who has for years been paid by Park West Gallery, a Michigan based gallery which sells art mainly through cruise ship based art auctions, to state that the large number of Salvador Dali prints the gallery sells are genuine and that the alleged Dali signatures many of them bear are legitimate.
Press Room, August 27, 2009

Dali "Divine Comedy Fraud" Investigation in Spain
The Horrific (Dantesque) Fraud with Dali. The center sued by the painter's Foundation sells loose prints from The Divine Comedy. A publisher authenticates for the USA a collection which is the subject of legal battles. La Razón, Spain.
Media, August 25, 2009

Something to Celebrate! The Tide Finally Starts to Turn Against Park West Gallery Auctions!
On Friday, August 14, 2009, The Boston Herald published an article announcing the debut of Celebrity Cruises' new ship, the "Equinox". What's so important about this article? Park West Gallery doesn't run the onboard art auctions.
Media, August 18, 2009

Cruise Passenger Told To Leave In Art Auction Row - The Independent
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.
Media, July 31, 2009

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Moves Forward with Cruise Ship Safety Bill
The International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV), a not for profit corporation formed by victims and families of victims of cruise crimes, applauded the unanimous passage of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, introduced by Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA). Currently, cruise ships operating under foreign flags of convenience are not required under U.S. law to report crimes occurring outside of U.S. territorial waters. H.R. 3660 would ensure that crimes committed while aboard cruise ships do not escape the jurisdiction of American law enforcement.
Press Room, July 30, 2009

Congresswoman Doris Matsui Applauds Unanimous Committee Support of Cruise Safety Act
Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) applauded her colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and thanked Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar (D-MN) and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) for their commitment to keep Americans aware and protected while on cruise vacations, and for bringing the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 before the full Committee for mark-up today. Representative Matsui introduced this legislation following holding multiple hearings which made apparent the gross inadequacies of current cruise safety provisions.
Press Room, July 30, 2009

New York Resident Removed from Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship for Criticizing Art Auction Practices
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...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."
Press Room, July 28, 2009

The Surreal Case of Dali's Art and the Squandered Legacy - The Independent
The Independent (UK newspaper) reports: On the cruise of a lifetime came the chance of a fortune. Cahal Milmo reports on a family who claim they were 'swindled' out of $400,000. Press coverage of Park West Gallery fraud victim and Fine Art Registry member, Sharon Day.
Media, July 18, 2009

Victims of Cruise Crimes Applaud Congressional Leaders As Cruise Ship Safety Bill Moves Forward
The International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV), a non-profit corporation formed by victims and families of victims of cruise crimes, applauded Congressional action to move the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 through Committee and for Congressional consideration. The legislation they have been instrumental in crafting will require that that all crimes that occur aboard cruise ships be reported to the Coast Guard and Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Press Room, July 15, 2009

Park West Gallery Secretly Owned Eight of Rembrandt's Copper Etching Plates
Fine Art Registry® has published four articles about the Millennium Impressions, modern restrikes of eight of Rembrandt's etchings. In these articles, the secret purchase of the eight plates in August 2003 by Park West Galleries, Michigan based art dealer selling art mainly on the cruise ships, is revealed for the first time, dispelling false information spread by Park West to its own auctioneers and its public, that the plates were not owned by Park West, among other misleading information.
Press Room, May 28, 2009

Park West Gallery Halts Some Cruise Ship Art Auctions - The Detroit News
The Detroit News reports of Park West Gallery's announcement of art auction withdraw from cruise ships on board Holland America Line, stating the cause of the withdrawal due to the global slow down in the economy.
Media, March 10, 2009

Park West Gallery Stops Selling Dali Prints on Cruise Ships reports say
According to several reports received from Park West Gallery auctioneers aboard cruise ships and from other sources, at the end of January 2009 Park West Gallery ordered ship auctioneers to stop selling the company's large stock of Salvador Dali prints and return all unsold inventory to headquarters in Southfield, Michigan.
Press Room, February 23, 2009

The Detroit News - Park West Gallery drops Dali print sales
In a news article entitled, Dealer drops Dali print sales, Mike Martindale reports that Park West Gallery has stopped selling Salvador Dali prints on cruise ship art auctions.
Media, February 21, 2009

The Detroit News - Park West Gallery defamation case in Florida dismissed
In a news article entitled, Southfield art gallery's defamation case in Florida dismissed, Delores Flynn reports that Park West Gallery defamation case against Fine Art Registry® in Florida is dismissed.
Media, February 16, 2009

Park West Gallery Case Against Fine Art Registry® Dismissed in Federal Court in Florida
Park West's defamation case against Fine Art Registry was dismissed by US District Judge Ursula Ungaro on 10 February 2009, "for failure to prosecute in the name of the real party in interest," thus ending Park West Gallery's boasts of a "multi-state legal suit against Fine Art Registry" so frequently repeated in its press releases, paid internet ads, and to dissatisfied customers calling in to request refunds for artwork purchased.
Press Room, February 12, 2009

The Art Newspaper Reports on Park West Sued by Customers
In a news article entitled, Park West sued by customers, Martha Lufkin reports plaintiffs demand refund for "fake" works against Park West Gallery. Fine Art Registry® is referenced.
Media, February 4, 2009

Park West Galleries, Inc. sued for art fraud in 1976
Park West Galleries, Inc. sued for art fraud. Park Newspaper article, "Print Predicament: What is original?" that was published in the Detroit, Mich. News on December 12, 1976. Courtesy The Salvador Dali Archives, Ltd. NY.
Media, January 28, 2009

ABC Detroit News Reports on Lawsuit Against Park West Gallery
In an ABC News, Channel 7 Detroit, report entitled, LAWSUIT: Southfield Gallery Sold Fake Art, Peggy Agar reports about the lawsuit against Park West Gallery for claims of selling fake art to customers.
Media, January 12, 2009

The Detroit News Reports on Lawsuit Against Park West Gallery
In a news article featured in The Detroit News entitled, Suits Claims Sale of Forged Art at Southfield Gallery, Mike Martindale reports about the lawsuit against Park West Gallery for claims of selling forged artwork to customers. Fine Art Registry® is referenced.
Media, January 12, 2009

Frustrated Cruise Line Art Auction Buyers Sue Park West Gallery and Royal Caribbean Cruises for Fraud, Conspiracy and Other Charges
A Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial was filed on 23 December 2008 against Park West Galleries, Inc., Albert Scaglione and Morris Shapiro (owner and gallery director, respectively) and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., by the Farmington Hills, MI, attorneys, Kaufman, Payton and Chapa, for Plaintiffs Albert and Vivian Best, Sharon Day, Julian Howard, Deborah Austin, Cheryl Crist, Heidi Rice, Michael and Maria Vallillo and Martha Szostak, all customers of Park West Galleries and all, except for Albert and Vivian Best, Fine Art Registry members.
Press Room, January 7, 2009

Court Sets Aside Default Judgment Against Fine Art Registry® In Park West Galleries Michigan Suit
On December 18th, 2008, the Honorable Lawrence P. Zatkoff of the Southern Division of the Eastern Michigan District Court, set aside a Default judgment against Fine Art Registry in the case filed by Park West Galleries Inc, claiming defamation in articles published on the FineArtRegistry.com website.
Press Room, January 5, 2009

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