This was originally posted on the SGR Blog.
Court Adjudicates Conflicting Claims for Possession
Almost fifty years ago, the renowned artist Alexander Calder allegedly gifted away 31 drawings. Half a century later, during which several transfers and transactions intervened, the Calder estate sought to recover the pieces from the gallery then in possession of the works.
Prior to his death on November 11, 1976, Alexander Calder, a renowned artist, allegedly gifted to Alfredo Melgar thirty-one drawings. Melgar retained the drawings in his possession until July 15, 2014, when, pursuant to a consignment agreement with a gallery, Chowaiki & Co., he delivered the drawings to non-party Ezra Chowaiki for sale. Melgar alleged that the drawings were neither sold during the consignment period (July 15, 2014 through December 31, 2014) nor returned to him by January 15, 2015 as set forth in the agreement.
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