The recent sale for nearly $80,000 of a 1942 Oscar awarded to the art director of "My Gal Sal" could turn out to be nonprofitable for an auction service being sued by the Academy Awards. They want the statuette back and won't pay more than $10 for it.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Rhode Island-based Briarbrook Auction Services.
Urgent: Do You Approve Or Disapprove of President Obama's Job Performance? Vote Now in Urgent Poll
Briarbrook sold the Oscar for $79,200 on June 24. "My Gal Sal" starred Rita Hayworth, and the art direction award to Joseph Wright was its only Academy Award win.
The academy adopted a rule in 1951 prohibiting winners or their heirs from selling Oscars. It is seeking an order requiring Briarbrook to sell it the Oscar for $10 in accordance with the academy bylaws.
Briarbrook owner Nanci Thompon said she has not seen the suit. But she noted that Wright's Oscar predated the academy's sales prohibition and said her company was careful before offering it for sale.
The lawsuit does not identify who purchased the statuette.
Urgent: Assess Your Heart Attack Risk in Minutes. Click Here.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.