The Roaches Corner is at it again

[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?

[RichardSimon]

Michael - I think the Roaches could easily have your type of lawsuit dismissed. It is expensive to defend but 1000 bucks apiece from 5-10 guys won't last very long with the attorney you hire. Believe me, I speak from experience.
Nice idea, but impractical.

[sports-rings]

thanks for the post Richard,

what if this class action suit hit the press and it became 50 people x $1,000
who were collectors, or victims of their previous few hundred auctions?

what if it included the authenticators?

Also, when the number of people involved in the class action suit grows, don't lawyers usually get more inclined to take on the case?

I know very little about law, so I was wondering, on what grounds would they be able to have the lawsuit dismissed?

[Mr. Zipper]

If I am not mistaken, Class Action attorneys typically work on contingency. So, someone would have to sell a firm on the concept... the firm would then place advertisements looking for people to join the suit.

The problem is this -- Coaches Corner does not have the deep pockets of pharmaceutical company. Class Action law firms take RX cases because the potential payoff from years of work is tens of millions of dollars. What is any law firm going to get from Coaches Corner other than a bankrupcy filing?

[ruth-gehrig]

I love to hear what an attorney would say about this situation.