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The Detroit News , MI
Jan 15 2012
Kevorkian paintings dispute in Oakland County court
By Mike Martindale , The Detroit News
Pontiac - Even after his own death, Jack Kevorkian can't stay out of court.
An attorney and friend of Kevorkian will be in Oakland Circuit Court
on Wednesday fighting efforts by a Boston-area museum to dismiss a
lawsuit here that seeks the return of 17 of Kevorkian's paintings that
were entrusted to the museum 12 years ago.
Kevorkian, who died in June at the age of 83, was involved in 130
assisted suicides and sparked an international "right to die"
dialogue. The controversial ex-pathologist had five criminal trials
before being convicted. He spent eight years in prison and was paroled
in 2007.
But before he went to prison, he loaned 17 of his paintings to the
Armenian Library and Museum Association, and Mayer Morganroth said
before his death that Kevorkian indicated to Morganroth he wanted the
artwork returned to Michigan for the benefit of his niece, Ava Janus,
who lives in Troy.
"The museum filed a lawsuit over the paintings in federal court in
Massachusetts first, so they feel that is the proper venue," said
Morganroth, executor of Kevorkian's estate.
"Well, Kevorkian lived here, his estate is here, and I am here. This
is the proper jurisdiction, not Massachusetts."
The museum's attorney, Gerald Gleeson, could not be reached for
comment Friday. His request to have the Oakland Circuit Court case
dismissed goes before Judge Martha Anderson on Wednesday.
Morganroth sued for the paintings' return last year while preparing
for a New York City auction of Kevorkian memorabilia, including his
bizarre - some believe grotesque - oil paintings. Morganroth has an
agreement, signed by Kevorkian and an ALMA official that said the
paintings were to be returned to Kevorkian on request.
The museum contends the curator did not have the authority to make
such an agreement.
"Well, they never would have had the paintings if not for the
agreement," Morganroth said.
The New York auction, which included Kevorkian's infamous Thanatron -
Greek for "death machine" - fizzled, with many bidders scared off
because of the ongoing legal dispute, Morganroth said.
"There were six museums which stayed away (from the auction) because
of the dispute, and I can't blame them," said Morganroth. "We had bids
of $80,000 on some of the paintings, but they were withdrawn because
of the legal dispute."
Morganroth said Kevorkian's artwork had an appraised value of more
than $2.5 million.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120115/METRO02/201150310/1409/metro/Kevorkian-paintings-dispute-Oakland-County-court
From: Baghdasarian
Jan 15 2012
Kevorkian paintings dispute in Oakland County court
By Mike Martindale , The Detroit News
Pontiac - Even after his own death, Jack Kevorkian can't stay out of court.
An attorney and friend of Kevorkian will be in Oakland Circuit Court
on Wednesday fighting efforts by a Boston-area museum to dismiss a
lawsuit here that seeks the return of 17 of Kevorkian's paintings that
were entrusted to the museum 12 years ago.
Kevorkian, who died in June at the age of 83, was involved in 130
assisted suicides and sparked an international "right to die"
dialogue. The controversial ex-pathologist had five criminal trials
before being convicted. He spent eight years in prison and was paroled
in 2007.
But before he went to prison, he loaned 17 of his paintings to the
Armenian Library and Museum Association, and Mayer Morganroth said
before his death that Kevorkian indicated to Morganroth he wanted the
artwork returned to Michigan for the benefit of his niece, Ava Janus,
who lives in Troy.
"The museum filed a lawsuit over the paintings in federal court in
Massachusetts first, so they feel that is the proper venue," said
Morganroth, executor of Kevorkian's estate.
"Well, Kevorkian lived here, his estate is here, and I am here. This
is the proper jurisdiction, not Massachusetts."
The museum's attorney, Gerald Gleeson, could not be reached for
comment Friday. His request to have the Oakland Circuit Court case
dismissed goes before Judge Martha Anderson on Wednesday.
Morganroth sued for the paintings' return last year while preparing
for a New York City auction of Kevorkian memorabilia, including his
bizarre - some believe grotesque - oil paintings. Morganroth has an
agreement, signed by Kevorkian and an ALMA official that said the
paintings were to be returned to Kevorkian on request.
The museum contends the curator did not have the authority to make
such an agreement.
"Well, they never would have had the paintings if not for the
agreement," Morganroth said.
The New York auction, which included Kevorkian's infamous Thanatron -
Greek for "death machine" - fizzled, with many bidders scared off
because of the ongoing legal dispute, Morganroth said.
"There were six museums which stayed away (from the auction) because
of the dispute, and I can't blame them," said Morganroth. "We had bids
of $80,000 on some of the paintings, but they were withdrawn because
of the legal dispute."
Morganroth said Kevorkian's artwork had an appraised value of more
than $2.5 million.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120115/METRO02/201150310/1409/metro/Kevorkian-paintings-dispute-Oakland-County-court
From: Baghdasarian