Controversy
Antiques and memorabilia dealer Gary Hendershott has filed lawsuits against Heritage, including a May 2009 RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) lawsuit alleging Heritage utilized shill bidding to increase prices, and failed to pay him commissions for auction sales he had facilitated for the firm. Heritage denied the claims, and the lawsuits were dismissed, without prejudice, by three different judges and sent to arbitration
In early September 2009 a similar RICO complaint was filed against Heritage by Chris Kortlander, a businessman from Montana who had once hired the firm. On September 25, 2009, all of Kortlander's claims were dismissed with prejudice.
On September 16, 2009, Heritage filed a motion asking for sanctions against Hendershott and his attorneys for misconduct.
On September 30, 2009, Heritage filed a lawsuit against Hendershott and his attorneys alleging defamation and civil extortion.
On April 7, 2010, U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis entered a permanent injunction ordering Hendershott and anyone acting on his behalf to remove from the Internet all previously published false, misleading and/or disparaging statements regarding Heritage and enjoining them in the future to desist from making or distributing such statements. The RICO lawsuit and all claims against Heritage were also dismissed with prejudice.
Read more about this topic: Heritage Auction Galleries
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