Quinn Emanuel Obtains Terminating Sanctions for Morgan Art Foundation in Robert Indiana Artwork Dispute

Our New York team has secured terminating sanctions for the Morgan Art Foundation in litigation concerning the works of artist Robert Indiana, including his iconic "LOVE" stacked-word image and sculpture.

Led by partners Luke Nikas and Maaren Shah, alongside Ryan Rakower Quinn Emanuel obtained the sanctions order from U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon, who cited art publisher Michael McKenzie's "repeated, intentional refusal to comply with court-ordered discovery and his intentional concealment of evidence."

The court found that McKenzie had moved approximately 2,500 Indiana artworks from his studio before a court-ordered inspection in 2021 and had engaged in other significant discovery misconduct. The terminating sanctions resolve the remaining dispute between the parties.

This outcome follows the team's 2019 success in related litigation, when Nikas and Shah received Litigator of the Week recognition for their work representing the Morgan Art Foundation in the broader dispute over Indiana's artistic works.