Named as defendants were Berner Auction Gallery, Heart of Ohio Antique Center, R. Bruce Knight, Jacob Berner, Silke Berner and James Berner.
All parties in the lawsuit declined to comment, however, an attorney for the Berners did issue a statement.
“This situation has been reviewed by the Clark County Sheriff’s department, by the Ohio attorney general and by the Ohio Department of Agriculture,” said Jim Heath, Springfield. “Each of those investigations was closed.”
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has jurisdiction over the auction business, he said.
The dispute centers around the 2008 sale of a French Impressionist’s painting that Colier claims was advertised by Berner’s as “important museum quality rare art,” according to the complaint.
Neither the name of the painting nor its picture was provided to the News-Sun. However, an exhibit contained in the complaint shows what is alleged to be a Berner’s advertisement with a thumbnail image of the piece, labeled with the artist’s name, “Achille Lauge, (1861-1944).”
Colier reportedly paid $25,300 for the painting, according to court documents.
The piece was later inspected by a Christie’s art examiner who determined that the painting was not an Achille Lauge and “had virtually no value,” according to court documents.
Colier had planned to sell the painting to Christie’s for $60,000 when he learned it was fake, according to court documents.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.
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