Re: droit de suite

Pat,

I find it mind-boggling that you had to go through that runaround. Did you try contacting Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts? I know there's one in New York; we have one in Massachusetts as well, and there are numerous like organizations around the country. They'll find you or any artist a lawyer either for free if you qualify, or at reduced rates.

I successfully settled a claim by a sculptor against a school system who mishandled a work. The Massachusetts moral rights law permits recovery of attorneys' fees, too, though I'm not sure about the New York statute, which is structured differently. Now, of course, VARA pre-empts most of these state suits, though not all of them. Still, if you get a VLA panel attorney working on a matter, it's because (s)he volunteered and should be familiar with most of these issues, and you won't be faced with the practical problems of low-value litigation.

Vance

-- 


******************************************************************************

*Vance R. Koven		20 Park Plaza Ste. 633		      Boston MA 02116*

*									     *

*tel. 617 482-3852	fax 617 482-4972       e-mail <vrkoven[_at_]world.std.com>*

*									     *

******************************************************************************