Tweet
LAWYER FIGHTS MUSEUM FOR KEVORKIAN ART
United Press International UPI
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/01/16/Lawyer-fights-museum-for-Kevorkian-art/UPI-71001326740322/?spt=hs&or=tn
Jan 16 2012
TROY, Mich., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A lawyer for the late "Dr. Death,"
Jack Kevorkian, is fighting to have 17 of the doctor's paintings
returned to his Michigan estate from a Boston-area museum.
Kevorkian, who died in June at 83, entrusted the paintings to the
Armenian Library and Museum Association 12 years ago, The Detroit
News reported Monday.
Kevorkian was involved in 130 assisted suicides, earning him the
nickname Dr. Death. After loaning his artwork to the ALMA, he spent
eight years in prison and was paroled in 2007.
Now lawyer Mayer Morganroth is fighting to have the artwork returned
to Michigan for the benefit of Kevorkian's 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."
Morganroth said he has an agreement, signed by Kevorkian and an ALMA
official, that said the paintings were to be given back to Kevorkian
on request. The museum argued 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.
Morganroth said a sale of Kevorkian's work, valued at more than $2.5
million, was dampened by the ongoing lawsuit.
"There were six museums which stayed away [from the auction] because
of the dispute, and I can't blame them," Morganroth said.
United Press International UPI
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/01/16/Lawyer-fights-museum-for-Kevorkian-art/UPI-71001326740322/?spt=hs&or=tn
Jan 16 2012
TROY, Mich., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A lawyer for the late "Dr. Death,"
Jack Kevorkian, is fighting to have 17 of the doctor's paintings
returned to his Michigan estate from a Boston-area museum.
Kevorkian, who died in June at 83, entrusted the paintings to the
Armenian Library and Museum Association 12 years ago, The Detroit
News reported Monday.
Kevorkian was involved in 130 assisted suicides, earning him the
nickname Dr. Death. After loaning his artwork to the ALMA, he spent
eight years in prison and was paroled in 2007.
Now lawyer Mayer Morganroth is fighting to have the artwork returned
to Michigan for the benefit of Kevorkian's 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."
Morganroth said he has an agreement, signed by Kevorkian and an ALMA
official, that said the paintings were to be given back to Kevorkian
on request. The museum argued 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.
Morganroth said a sale of Kevorkian's work, valued at more than $2.5
million, was dampened by the ongoing lawsuit.
"There were six museums which stayed away [from the auction] because
of the dispute, and I can't blame them," Morganroth said.