"For five years and counting — the latest lawsuit came Friday — the artist’s family, friends and associates have been trading lurid courtroom allegations of kidnapping, hired goons, attempted murder by Brazil nut, and schemes to wring even more money out of what was already one of the most profitable art franchises in modern times." (UPDATED)

Amy Chozick in the New York Times on the sad saga around Peter Max.

UPDATE:  The Art Market Monitor says it's less a story about Max than it is about Park West Gallery, "a company called out many times for its abusive practices ‘auctioning’ art on cruise ships. Their auctions are really a form of theater where buyers act out an auction for low-value art they’ve been told is an asset."  Some Park West background here.