Wednesday, July 09, 2008

"Experts say it could be a year before the case goes to trial and that Cutler and Solomon have already spent more than the painting’s estimated value"

The Las Vegas Sun's Kristen Peterson has an entertaining update on the battle over a stolen Rockwell painting that ended up in Steven Spielberg's hands. I posted some thoughts about the case a little over a year ago. I think the issue still is going to be whether Solomon, the theft victim, reasonably should have discovered that the painting had been found back in 1989 (in which case he would lose on statute of limitations grounds). According to Peterson:

"After purchasing the work, Cutler toured and advertised the painting, which was written about in a couple of antiques periodicals. It was this publicity that prompted a former employee of Solomon’s to contact Jack and Carolyn Solomon. The ex-employee says they never returned her calls. A newspaper reporter, who also left messages for the Solomons, says his calls were not returned."

Those aren't great facts for Solomon, although the question probably goes to a jury, so you never know.