The Roaches Corner is at it again

[ruth-gehrig]

Wouldn't it be funny if during the course of a lawsuit C.C was served with a subpoena to produce consigner records??

[mdschulze]

What the hell kind of experience and/or education must one have to become a professional authenticator? I just may start my own family business... have my 9 yr old sign "Babe Ruth" all day long, print the certificate, then off to the auction it goes! Get rich quick??

[sports-rings]

Someone earlier in this post asked if any lawyers could provide their input on this matter.

I will pledge $1,000 for a class action suit. If we could get 5 - 10 or more to join would we be able to do this?

Anyone else interested in joining?

[RichardSimon]

Just a guess here, but I don't think this can qualify as a class action.
I think if you got a bunch of their buyers that could easily qualify for a class action.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Just a guess here, but I don't think this can qualify as a class action.
I think if you got a bunch of their buyers that could easily qualify for a class action.

I think the OP was suggesting that the community could have legal standing as all of our collections have been "damaged" by the flood of fakes. In effect, we are victims as well as those who actually purchased the junk.

Probably a stretch, but I suspect weaker legal cases have been filed.

[thecatspajamas]

I agree with Richard that proving damage to the collecting community at large would be much more of a long shot than getting together a group of buyers. Though how would you go about contacting those buyers? If you got the first one on board, could you subpoena their bidding records in order to contact others? (This is me thinking out loud, but not being at all sure about the legal process).

That does bring to mind the question of if/when these forgeries have resurfaced elsewhere in the hobby. Not necessarily through other reputable auction houses, but more likely on eBay. Anyone seen them offered? Or are they still hanging on unsuspecting buyers' man cave walls?

Personally, if I was the victim and innocently trying to flip the item for profit, I would rather be invited to join a class action suit against the auction house/authenticator than just a rude e-mail telling me my item was fake. (Not sure if that makes sense reading back over it, but hopefully you get my meaning).

[sports-rings]

If Coachs corner and their authenticators faced multiple lawsuits this story would hit the media sites. Then others would join in the suits.

Would this drive them out of business as defending against multiple lawsuits would be very expensive?