Art Authenticator Biro Sues the New Yorker

The Courthouse News Service is reporting that Canadian art authenticator Peter Paul Biro is suing publisher Conde Nast, the New Yorker magazine and article author David Grann in a $2 million defamation case.  The article by Grann entitled Mark of a Masterpiece was certainly an interesting and entertaining read.  I posted on the AW Blog when the article was available online in July, 2010.  You can read the original post with link to the full article New Yorker article by clicking HERE.

The Courthouse News Service reports content from the suit, which of course has only Biro's accusations  and claims from the suit filing.  There have been reports that the New Yorker is particular and extensive in veryifying article content and sourcing, so the response from Conde Nast, et al will be very interesting.

The Courthouse news states

Biro says Grann's 16,000-word article, "purports to be an in-depth study of the science of forensic examination of art works, and of the use of fingerprint technology to advance that science." But, Biro says, "It is nothing of the sort, but rather a false and defamatory screed against plaintiff, written and published with malice and an indifference to the standards of responsible journalism.

"The article relies to a significant extent on anonymous sources, many of whom are no longer alive, and repeats defamatory statements made by those sources.

"Through selective omission, innuendo and malicious sarcasm, the article paints a portrait of plaintiff which has no bases in reality, and which has been highly damaging to his reputation.

"The intent of the article is apparent from the very subtitle, which implies that plaintiff finds fingerprints where they do not exist, and which represents an editorial attempt to prejudice the reader in advance of the narrative which follows."

Biro adds: "Defendant Grann obtained plaintiff's consent to a series of interviews, by misleading him about defendant Grann's true intentions in writing the article, and he distorted the substance of those interviews to serve a predetermind agenda."

To read the full Courthouse News Service article, click HERE.

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