As widely reported in the mainstream media, Michael Jackson has filed a lawsuit against Julien’s Auctions for the return of personal property from the Neverland Ranch that was consigned to the auction house with a sale planned for April 22-April 25, 2009 in Beverly Hills. Fox News now reports on claims of threats made against Darren Julien and partner Martin Nolan by a Jackson associate. [Read more…]
Superior Court Lawsuit Filing: Michael Jackson’s MJJ Productions, Inc. vs Julien’s Auction House, LLC
As widely reported in the mainstream media, Michael Jackson has filed a lawsuit against Julien’s Auctions for the return of personal property from the Neverland Ranch that was consigned to the auction house with a sale planned for April 22-April 25, 2009 in Beverly Hills. Below is a PDF of the complaint filed in California Superior Court. [Read more…]
Potential Actors’ Strike Looms: “Sequel” to Writers’ Strike?
Only months after the 100-day writers’ strike was settled this past February (see Writers’ Strike Ends), a potential actors’ strike threatens to bring a halt to film and television production yet again. The contract between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers expires June 30, following weeks of unproductive negotiations. This scenario includes additional real life drama in that many notable actors are choosing one of two trade unions and their respective platforms to ally with in resolving this matter. [Read more…]
“Original Prop Purchase Agreement” Template
One thing many collectors do not consider are the potential (unfortunate) “what if?” possibilities we can encounter in buying and selling original props, wardrobe, and other artifacts from film and television.
In the event a problem arises, it is best that both Buyer and Seller have a common understanding of the consequences and responsibilities.
Also, there are areas in which specifics are often not addressed or clarified appropriately, such as ancillary costs and other details beyond the “purchase price” (i.e. shipping costs, shipping method, etc.).
I recently developed an “Original Prop Purchase Agreement” for one of my own purchases, so I decided to simplify it, convert it into a more basic template, and offer it here as a tool for other collectors to consider, edit, amend, and/or employ however they see fit: [Read more…]
“Star Trek: The Experience” – May Close at End of 2008
There is an interesting article by Anthony Pascale at TrekMovie.com, reporting on the state of the contract between CBS and Cedar Fair regarding the “Star Trek: The Experience” attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton:
Future of ‘Star Trek: The Experience’ In Doubt
Per the article, the current agreement ends December 31,2008, and there are “currently no plans to renew” it. A final decision is expected at the end of this month. Apparently attendance has been in decline for some time. More details are available at the above referenced article. [Read more…]
LFL Files Suit Against GenCon for Nearly $1M – Failure to Deliver Proceeds of Charity Auction from Celebration IV
LucasFilm LTD filed suit against Gen Con LLC for “breach of contract, conversion, and unjust enrichment” in regards to the Star Wars Celebration IV convention held in Los Angeles in May 2007.
According to the suit, LFL provided rare Star Wars memorabilia from the Archive to be auctioned (via a live auction and a silent auction) at the Celebration fan convention, with the net proceeds of the charity intended for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Per the suit, the auction events raised “at least $150,000 from the sale of LFL’s archive items”. [Read more…]
Auction House Buying Considerations, Part III: Bonhams
This is the third in a series of articles looking at auction house policies, terms, and conditions of sale. [Read more…]
Auction House Buying Considerations, Part I: Overview
I have had very limited experiences in buying direct from auction houses, but there are terms and conditions of sale, unique to each company/event, that can differ from other buying experiences. I would highly recommend that any collector, before participating in such an auction, carefully review the terms and conditions of the sale, typically outlined in the catalog. Even with the same company, these are prone to change catalog to catalog, sale to sale. [Read more…]