Home : Celebrity Justice, Exclusives : Art Dealer to Forlani: You Baroque My Reputation

Celebrity Justice
Art Dealer to Forlani: You Baroque My Reputation

Posted Aug 21st 2009 1:26AM by TMZ Staff

Claire FolaniActress Claire Forlani is accused of wielding a pen that is indeed mightier than the sword ... and killing the reputation of an art dealer in the process.

The former "CSI NY" star is being sued for allegedly crushing the "fragile and intangible" reputation of art dealer Paul Rusconi in a mass email she sent out to a bunch of her friends.

The dealer claims Forlani unleashed an "almost 500-word poison-pen note"... claiming the guy sold her a bunch of fake pieces which were allegedly misrepresented as works from William Claxton and Keith Haring. She also claims he significantly overcharged her for some Andy Warhol pieces.

The dealer claims he's done nothing wrong and filed the defamation lawsuit.

Forlani's lawyer, Marty Singer, tells us, "This lawsuit is absurd and totally without merit. We are very confident that the court will throw out the suit."

And speaking of the suit, here's the best part: The dealer claims he's been damaged to such an extent "only a very large damages judgment can begin to remedy."

Apparently, he's not a minimalist.

Tags: andy warhol, AndyWarhol, art dealer, ArtDealer, claire forlani, ClaireForlani, csi ny, CsiNy, lawsuit

Comments [19]
SHARE |
4ie6

Relevant Posts

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 2) | 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. First!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 1:30AM on Aug 21st 2009 by Simone

2. If this guy really sold low quality or fake pieces of art, she was right in tell it to everybody. Maybe, that is the only way for a crook learn to respect people, to respect his clients.
Well done, Claire!!!!!!

Posted at 1:40AM on Aug 21st 2009 by Simone

3. She can only make such statements IF they are true.

If not, her actions are indeed damaging to the man's business and he has just cause to sue her.

Free Speech does not apply in such cases.

Posted at 4:04AM on Aug 21st 2009 by AD

4. The bitch looks myopic, so maybe she did not see what she was buying ?????

Posted at 4:09AM on Aug 21st 2009 by Geez

5. The single most gorgeous actress ever !

Posted at 4:49AM on Aug 21st 2009 by Lord Snooty

6. ARTZ MOORINTIER MARCIBO?

Posted at 5:30AM on Aug 21st 2009 by PRICE is right~$$

7. Im broke but my master piece is priceless. How it happend is for the interst of the Hollywood Film Makers. Immages that were not seen in the MASTERPIECE, surprisingly until 8 months ago turned out to be the latest big picture of All if not the Majoriti(hey jim) was and is the, A little girls dream reality of protection. Im tired and 39 now, with living testimonies and relations of the true tare heel. call him what u want. many e host. (Hey johnny too). The Joker; Priceless. Charlotte N.C.

Posted at 6:41AM on Aug 21st 2009 by stephanie hoffmann

8. Wah!

Posted at 8:01AM on Aug 21st 2009 by Homie1Kanobe

9. So someone can't talk to their friends about how they felt about someone offering a service? Forlani e-mailed her FRIENDS, not the press. Whomever the person was that sent that e-mail to the press, telling them to print it should be the one looked at. I mean come on... I've talked to my friends about businesses & people that I thought was crooked. Does that mean that I should be sued as well for telling my friends my personal opinion? If I were to go to the papers & say it, sure. But telling my friends about it? This lawsuit is absurd. I think it's Forlani's freedom to tell her friends her opinion- and this guy is trying to say that she can't talk to her friends & tell them what she thinks. So from now on everyone, you can only say nice happy thoughts to your friends in your e-mails when you are discussing people's businesses! That's totally not infringing on our personal freedoms what so ever!

Then the art dealer trying to sue for a large sum of money is also suspicious. A real art dealer would have just laughed Forlani off & just kept going.

Posted at 9:05AM on Aug 21st 2009 by NekoNeko

10. When you write letters disparaging a business and/or telling people not to shop there, the business can turn around and sue you.

That's exactly what this art dealer is doing and no, it is not a laughing matter.

The fact that she hired Marty Singer tells me she knows it's serious.

Posted at 11:05AM on Aug 21st 2009 by David

11. Don't worry Clair... you have a good case!! This guy is unfortunately a liar and ego maniac. And no, he isn't a minimalist although he will make you think he is.

Posted at 11:16AM on Aug 21st 2009 by taylor beau

12. You don`t buy art from a dealer you use a broker OR you don`t know a thing about high dollar art.

Posted at 11:33AM on Aug 21st 2009 by ART BROKER

13. NEVER try to buy high art from a dealer...they are all fakes.GO to a pro ART BROKER to find a artistes work OR have them work the deal for you.They will know much more than most people and can get you a inside deal.Yes you will pay thier standard fee but it will be a safe deal and not a fake.Only those whom don`t know art would ever buy from a house dealer.If it is setting in a dealer`s store it is worthless or fake or just a write off for the rich owner and it will be marked way to high.USE a ART BROKER play it safe or be sorry and go broke.

Posted at 11:46AM on Aug 21st 2009 by ART BROKER

14. One last thing the work could have damages that have or have not be redone also and you think you are getting a great deal.Will never happen the ART BROKER will get you a good deal but yes the more you know about the work the better,two heads are better than one.Most brokers won`t steal the deal from you unless it`s easy to do and makes them millions as they want to stay in the biz.If you want a work and a broker trys to steal your deal get a new broker and steal the deal back by cutting your new broker in.

Posted at 11:57AM on Aug 21st 2009 by ART BROKER

15. SHUTUP.... My spam PWNS urs !!! buy from dealers gots the dealios.

Posted at 1:01PM on Aug 21st 2009 by ART DEALER

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments