Keno Brothers Sued Again

The Keno brothers have recently been sued by several auction houses, most recently, as reported by the Maine Antique Digest, byb Sloans and Kenyon in Chevy Chase, MD for a total of $76,630.76. The brothers have also recently sued by Stair Galleries and New Orleans Auction Galleries.

Maine Antique Digest reports

On August 17, Sloans & Kenyon, the auction house located in Chevy Chase, Maryland, filed suit against New York City dealer Leigh Keno and Keno, Inc.

Sixty-seven (67) lots were won by Keno, Inc. and Leigh Keno in Sloans & Kenyon’s online sale held on April 30, according to the complaint filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court. The total hammer price was $61,905, and the buyer’s premium was $14,725.76, for a total of $76,630.76.

“Repeated demands have been made for payment but none [has] been forthcoming from Keno,” court papers state.

Sloans & Kenyon is demanding a judgment of $14,725.76 for the lost buyer’s premium, $10,793.75 for lost seller’s premium, $7500 in storage fees, $4590.70 in interest, attorney’s fees, and other costs. Sloans & Kenyon is alleging breach of contract and detrimental reliance.

This is the third recent lawsuit involving Leigh and Leslie Keno, the twin brothers best known for their appearances on Antiques Roadshow. New Orleans Auction Galleries is suing both brothers and Keno Art Advisory for failing to pay for purchases in an April auction. The pair bought approximately $400,000 at auction but as of August 2 had made only a payment of $70,000. Stair Galleries, Hudson, New York, filed suit against Leslie Keno for failing to pay his bill stemming from an April 30 and May 1 auction. According to the Stair complaint, Keno “entered into an agreement with Stair to purchase works of art, furniture, and objet d’art…for the sum total of $287,214.93.” Keno “breached the Agreement by failing to pay Stair the amounts due.”

Source: Maine Antique Digest