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We've Been Sued by Christopher Morales

Last Wednesday I was directed to an article on Autograph Alert that, beyond saying the usual things they say about this site and me, seemingly "outed" one of our members whose comments they didn't like. At the end of the article, they wrote:

"By the time you read this story,
Cyrkin will have the first of a major rude awakening,
one he has invited and is well deserved."

The next morning I received an email from a court services firm asking for an appointment to serve me with legal papers. I arranged to be served this Wednesday. And I had a copy of the suit sent to me.

I have been sued by Christopher Morales, the autograph authenticator I have called, "the forger's best friend." Morales is joining me to his lawsuit against Roger Epperson alleging:

libel
slander
business disparagement
tortuous interference with prospective business relations, and
civil conspiracy.

I don't look forward to this or any lawsuit. Who does? But I feel it's my duty, and all of ours, to do everything we can to protect collectors, fans and the autograph hobby against forgeries. So, like Roger has, I'll defend the lawsuit vigorously—and I will not stop speaking out.

I stand behind everything I've ever said or published about Christopher Morales, and the forgery industry that uses him. I would be surprised if even one-percent of the autographs he has authenticated are genuine. But this is Morales's opportunity to prove that I am wrong; that most of the autographs he authenticates ARE genuine—and that we are "out to get him."

The truth is on our side.

Sincerely,

Steve Cyrkin
Editor & Publisher

10 members like this

Comment by CJCollector on March 23, 2011 at 7:05pm: Does everyone remember the "Pawn Stars" episode where that Lou Gehrig signed jersey sold for a whopping $3,000. That jersey came with two COAs. Two of the COAs were from "Forensic Examiners."

If you read Mr. Morales' website it reads "Court Qualified Forensic Science Expert." On his website there are photos of Mr. Morales "conducting an exhumation." And that caption reads "For approximately the last two decades, I have been involved in international forensic development and training." How has he (Morales) found the time to "forensically examine" 17,000 signatures at a minimum of two hours examination of each signature while spending the last 20 years involved in "international forensic training and development?" So in other words, his expertise (forensic examiner) stretches from exhumation to authenticating autographs.

Over years, too, there has been confusion about Mr. Morales' "forensic examination" credentials. What are they really? The truth will eventually come to the surface.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 23, 2011 at 7:53pm

@Richard Simon:

Are you talking about Operation Bullpen?

As you know, the fight against forgeries will never end. And Morales's lawsuit against Roger and me is only a small part of it.

For the life of me, I don't understand why Morales sued either of us. We can subpoena everything we need to defend ourselves—and we have to. This includes:

Everything Morales provided the FBI
Copies of the 17,000+ COAs he claimed he has issued
The images he said he keeps of each one
The rejection letters, images and all documentation for every autograph he has rejected as fake.
Copies of every forensic examination he has done outside of autographs. After all, you want to compare what his forensic examinations are like outside of the hobby.
Telephone records relating to members of the autograph field
Emails relating to members of the autograph field
Shipping and receiving records and travel records relating to authentication. For instance, he is/was the sole authenticator for Gallery of Dreams, even listed in their executive profiles. Did he fly out to look at every item he authenticated for them? Did they ship them all out to him and he shipped them back?

Do the hours add up? After all, some of those guitars and drum heads they've sold have at least 34 autographs on each, like the 50th GRAMMY guitars and drum heads, and he testified he spends 2-3 hours each signature according to the notes from the Slaven trial. That's 68-102 hours a guitar. (That's a lot of work for $75 an item or less.)

Jerry Gladstone said Morales would do authentication for ARA on premises. Each Beatles album has 4 signatures; each Rolling Stones, 5. That's at least a day for every album by those bands. At $75 or less an item, I think he could have made more at Starbucks (with tips)...and he probably could find work closer than Florida. And what about the ton of The Band "Last Waltz" albums ARA sold? 13 artists sign those. At $75 an item that's less than I made working at the car wash in 1972.
All invoices and records for work he's done for: American Royal Arts, Starmarks, Dave Wakefield, Antiquities, Gallery of Dreams, Rock Star Gallery, Celebrites Gallery, Forever Legends, Autograph Central, Starabilias, The Art of Music, I Rock N Roll...who else has sold Morales authenticated material?

Since forensic evaluations have to be done in person, and take hours a signature, we're going to find out if it adds up. Was he authenticating in Virginia at the same time he was authenticating in Florida, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Illinois? Or are there records of things being shipped to and from Virginia...and does the time add up?

Is he authenticating 10...20...50 Beatles, Stones and Eagles albums a day?

This is going to be really interesting. I'm excited to get started on discovery.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 23, 2011 at 8:15pm: Chris...that's right. We have to subtract the time he's spent exhuming bodies in South America from the time he's spent exhuming baseball players.

Comment by CJCollector on March 23, 2011 at 8:27pm: I have a feeling that Mr. Morales expected everyone to run for cover following the announcement of the lawsuit. Instead, everyone has voiced their support for both Mr. Cyrkin and Mr. Epperson because we all know that this cannot continue.

I look forward to the April 8th decision and what follows afterward.

Like Howard Beale would scream "We're mad as hell and we're not gonna take it any more!!!"

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 23, 2011 at 8:43pm: Oh yes...Morales also authenticates for AlwaysAtAuction.com. Along with TTA.

Comment by DB on March 24, 2011 at 12:45am: Mike, it would appear that "UncleAL" is selling the secretarial Heston for a mere $70.00 but I enjoy the authentic label" Probably. We need to get Uncle AL over to the Heston Thread.

Discovery can be fun and exhausting....

Comment by CJCollector on March 24, 2011 at 4:48am: @Richard Kim. The below is a Jeter forgery that is frequently sold at the Roach's Corner website:

http://www.memreg.com/BioPage/ItemManager.aspx?ViewType=View&It...

The below item contains another Jeter forgery:
http://www.memreg.com/BioPage/ItemManager.aspx?ViewType=View&It...

Comment by CJCollector on March 24, 2011 at 4:52am: Does anyone monitor your site, Mr. Kim? Below is another Jeter forgery with a COA from "Showcase Authentics." I have yet to see anything from "Showcase Authentics" that is authentic.

http://www.memreg.com/BioPage/ItemManager.aspx?ViewType=View&It...

Comment by Richard S. Simon on March 24, 2011 at 5:22am: Steve - I am talking about personal lawsuits with people in this business.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on March 24, 2011 at 5:32am: It was always my impression that "forensic document examination" primarily involved verifying the paper and ink type was appropriate for the era. I don't see how being a forensic document examiner qualifies anyone to be familar with signature styles, common forgery types, etc. The lame argument that FDEs are more qualified than legit "authenticators" is patently absurd.

Then again, standing in front of a giant microscope and using photos of body exhumations to bolster your autograph authenticating resume is absurd as well.