Banach

Dedalus's response to Ms. Banach's lawsuit is to countersue for more than $5 million, claiming "breach of fiduciary duty, self dealing, theft of corporate opportunities, conversion, replevin, and spoliation of computer evidence."

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

In court documents, Joan Banach, a former employee who has been in active litigation with the foundation since 2009—citing wrongful dismissal and gender discrimination—similarly questions the way Dedalus has been evaluating Motherwell works.

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

In court papers for her gender-discrimination and wrongful-termination lawsuit against Dedalus, Ms. Banach alleges that as director of the catalogue raisonné project, Mr. Flam made "repeated misjudgments about the authenticity of works attributed to Motherwell."

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

"The 'Spanish Elegy' purchased by Killala is one of the paintings identified by Banach in her suit," Mr. Bantle said by email.

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

Alarmed by his mistakes, Ms. Banach claims in her complaint, the foundation's board took out a $2 million insurance policy "to cover the costs of a potential lawsuit."

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

In particular, Ms. Banach says that Mr. Flam made his own determinations about two of Motherwell's "Spanish Elegy" paintings, which she claims he subsequently reversed.

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

And it states in court papers that "Banach's apparent hope to turn this action into a forum to dispute or prove the authenticity of Motherwell works or Dedalus's views thereon is improper and impermissible."

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

Ms. Banach further alleges in her complaint that Mr. Flam "flouted established procedure" in authenticating and then deauthenticating work himself, without consulting the other members of the committee.

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

A work that fits the description of one of the Elegy series cited in Ms. Banach's claim now appears to be at the heart of the Killala suit.

Behind the Veil: Questions About Art Authentication James Panero 2011

Banach pleaded guilty to interference with the pilot and in 2006 was sentenced to two years 'probation.

Grand jury to get case of Fairfax man accused of aiming laser at police copter 2010