Muhammad Ali, Fake?

I should have posted this long ago. I bought in 2002, paid $450. Got it from Park West Galleries, yes on a cruise ship. I've been talking to PW for about two months about replacing or giving me my money back. I am very surprised they have spent this long talking to me, even though we go for weeks without contact, and I know I will get nothing. I just want to see how it ends. I would like to shed a little light on Park West. In my mind they are a big ARA. They are an art dealer but do sell memorabilia. In my research I have found Fine Art Registry. They are single handedly taking on PW and give people a place to turn after realizing they have been burned. I have talked to them many times. She is the Steve Cyrkin of the art world. I would love comments about the Ali piece, I'm not trying to cross the line over to art, but if anyone is interested, give a little attention to Fine Art Registry. She is fighting a good fight over there.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin-Moderator on April 3, 2012 at 7:28am

Love it! Thank you, Barry.

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Permalink Reply by DB on April 3, 2012 at 7:55am

barry, don't be silly - take the money and sign the settlement agreement. Me, I would have taken the ali above but I understand the reservations. Once the $$ is in hand then merely a "we have settled the matter on the refund but the terms and conditions are under a "confidentiality" agreement". The rest of us will know and understand. Either way it was your call.

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Permalink Reply by Barry S on April 3, 2012 at 5:21pm

If this was a basic confidentiality agreement I would have signed DB. I would have to fight any subpoena, summons, fight jurisdiction. It covered everything and everyone, from the mailman to the girl that passes out champagne at the art auctions. It just seemed so dirty. I don't want to sound like $500 is nothing to me. It's a lot of money, but not enough for me to sign this. And it just never set well with me that they really wanted me to take the "$3000 Ali" over the $500. Now if this was for $5000? You'd never hear from me again.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin-Moderator on March 16, 2012 at 9:40am

As far as I know, that is not a current Ali signature. It could be older or he could have changed recently, but it's more of an abbreviated version of his autograph from maybe about 10 years ago or more.

I'm not saying it's bad--it could be just fine. But it's much nicer than what I've seen in recent years.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Digby on April 3, 2012 at 12:48am

As far as I am aware he stopped adding `alias` Cassius Clay` many years ago before his signature gotten so small and rushed as in more recent years

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Permalink Reply by Barry S on April 22, 2012 at 8:07am

by Theresa Franks, for Fine Art Registry®

On December 21, 2011, we reported on Park West Gallery victim, Marti Szostak's Motion for Summary Judgment against Park West Gallery: Dali Forgery Victim Marti Szostak Slams Park West Gallery with Motion for Summary Judgment. We finally have a decision from the court and we are thrilled to report that it is a big VICTORY for the guys in the white hats! The black hats, Park West Gallery, lost its defamation claim against Marti Szostak--a battle that has taken four long years to win and for which Park West Gallery viciously and vigorously fought, claiming damages in the absurd and unsupported sum of $46,000,000 (forty-six million dollars).

The two statements that Park West Gallery alleged formed the basis of their defamation claim against Marti Szostak, are as follows. The first was posted on ripoffreport.com, on April 21, 2008, as follows:
In 2005 on a Carnival cruise, I was totally enticed and swindled into believing that I was buying original Salvador Dali paintings worth almost twice what I paid for them, along with two other supposedly original Rembrandt lithographs, against values at almost twice what I paid for them, I was wined and dined totally. In 2007 on a Celebrity cruise, I was once again enticed and totally swindled into purchasing 6 more 'originally signed' Rembrandt lithographs to complete a series of 8 Rembrandts almost impossible to get paintings that were appraised at almost twice what I paid for them.
What's interesting and what few realize is the existence of a very special business relationship between Park West Gallery and the CEO of ripoffreport.com to suppress any negative reports or complaints by Park West Gallery victims and prevent them from being posted on ripoffreport.com, in exchange for Park West Gallery's big fat pay check to the CEO of ripoffreport. Read the trial testimony of Park West Gallery CEO, Albert Scaglione and another principal of Park West Gallery, Albert Molina, regarding the truth Park West Gallery would rather not be public knowledge: Ripoff Report Rips on Park West Gallery: Dirty Deals, Intimidation, Cover Ups, and Trial Testimony Exposed.

The second allegedly defamatory statement was made online at "avoidparkwestgallery.blogspot.com," citing from the Court's Order:
In particular, the statement indicated that "they [Park West Gallery] were lying," that Szostak "received a threatening call from Park West," that "it turns out the pieces I purchased from Park West are virtually worthless," and that Park West's "practices" include "claiming artworks are one of a kind originals when in fact they're mass-produced giclees.
Honestly, when is Park West Gallery going to learn that the truth is always revealed and it always prevails in the end? Why doesn't Park West Gallery stop with all its vile, evil practices and endless, protracted litigation and do the right thing?

It is an understatement to say that Park West Gallery has brutalized Marti Szostak over the last four years. While Park West Gallery may have taken issue with Marti Szostak's complaints regarding being ripped off, these statements are no different than the dozens of others referenced on ripoffreport.com from at least 2004 up until the time Park West Gallery started paying ripoffreport to suppress victims' complaints. Why haven't they sued all these complainants too? The truth is, Marti Szostak and her family have been punished exceedingly by Park West Gallery because she brought suit against the gallery for the purchase of fraudulent and forged works of art she was sold. Park West Gallery is well known for making "examples" out of anyone that challenges them. Now Park West Gallery will finally have to face Ms. Szostak at trial for her claims of fraud and forgery against the gallery.

Marti Szostak was a witness for Fine Art Registry at our 2010 trial with Park West Gallery in which Fine Art Registry won a unanimous jury verdict and an award of $500,000. Marti's story is compelling and her sworn testimony is set forth in the article: Park West Gallery's Abuse and Financial Rape of the Szostak Family.

To recap! All defamation claims by Park West Gallery against Marti Szostak were DISMISSED! In addition, Park West Gallery recognizing (way too late in the game as usual) that they were in big trouble if all the victims and Fine Art Registry too were to attend trial together, Park West Gallery desperately scrambled to try to change the inevitable. Park West Gallery whined and cried, begging the court to sever or to order separate trials for the victims Marti Szostak, Mike Vallillo, and the other plaintiffs, including a separate trial against Fine Art Registry and this writer. Well, fortunately, Park West Gallery won't be getting its way on this one either. The Judge DENIED Park West Gallery's request for separate proceedings. Awww, what a shame! As we have reported over and over again, the last thing Park West Gallery wants is for the victims and Fine Art Registry sitting at the same counsel table in front a jury.

So, it look like it's game on!

Congratulations to the Szostak family for their big win against the world's most litigious art gallery on the planet! Fine Art Registry is looking forward to joining Marti Szostak, Mike Vallillo and Sharon Day at trial in Oakland County, Michigan in the near future.

JUSTICE HAS FINALLY PREVAILED! HALLELUJAH!

The Court's Order is posted below in its entirety:

Open publication - Free publishing - More marti szostak