Perry Amsellem, Co-Chair of Pryor Cashman’s Art Law Group, spoke with The Art Newspaper for a recent article examining The Dedalus Foundation’s victory in a long-running suit against its former director and curator, Joan Banach.

Banach had been an assistant to the artist Robert Motherwell (for whom the foundation is named) and, following his death in 1991, remained employed by Dedalus, serving on its board of directors and catalogue raisonné committee.

In 2008, Banach’s employment was terminated after Dedalus learned that she had been anonymously selling undocumented Motherwell art while she was, in fact, responsible for documenting his art during his lifetime. Shortly thereafter, she brought suit against Dedalus in state court alleging wrongful termination and gender-based employment discrimination.

In dismissing Banach’s claims and granting Dedalus’s motion for summary judgment, the court ruled: “It is not unreasonable that someone who is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of Motherwell artwork and inventory would be terminated for not including her ownership of Motherwell artwork on that inventory.” 

Responding to the court’s decision, Amsellem told The Art Newspaper: “Dedalus has been completely vindicated.” To read the full article, please click here.

News of Dedalus's victory was also reported by The New York Times.

More About Amsellem’s Practice

A founder of Pryor Cashman’s Art Law Group, Amsellem represents galleries, collectors, foundations and other nonprofits on a broad range of art law matters. His counsel has proved invaluable in cases like the Knoedler scandal, where he helped his clients expose a massive art fraud and recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

Amsellem frequently lectures on topics involving art law and cultural heritage crimes.

To learn more about his work, please visit here.