Estate of Evelyn A.J. Hall — Update

Earlier on this blog, I reported on the controversy surrounding the Jolika Collection at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco.

Here is a summary of recent developments as reported in John Cote, Art caught in spat stays at de Young – for now, SFGate.com, Sept. 23, 2008:

• A Florida court previously ordered John Friede to turn over the artwork to his brothers but prohibited them from selling any of the pieces until December 20, 2008.
• On September 19, 2008, a California court directed the artwork to remain at the Museum.
• John Friede agrees that he owes his brothers the settlement money but claims they must wait until the IRS clears their mother’s (Evelyn A.J. Hall) estate so he can sell other assets to raise the money such as paintings by Picasso and Gauguin.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.