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LA Art Organization Sues Over Missing Artwork

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A local arts organization and three street artists are suing Anschutz Entertainment Group, alleging it junked artwork they loaned to the company for a promotional event, according to court papers obtained
Tuesday.

L.A. Art Machine and artists Mear One, Chor Boogie and Shark Toof filed suit in Los Angeles federal court against AEG and the AEG-owned Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live for damages, alleging violations of the Visual Artists
Rights Act and the California Art Preservation Act.

Both federal laws protect the rights of artists and forbid the desecration, alteration or destruction of works of art.

An AEG representative could not be immediately reached for comment.

According to plaintiffs attorney Daniel Y. Zohar, pieces worth $100,000 were loaned to AEG for a promotional party at the luxury hotel and condominium complex, but instead of being returned, the art was destroyed.

"What AEG did was in violation not only of my clients' economic rights, but a violation of their moral rights as defined by federal and state law," Zohar said.

"These renowned artists had agreed to show their artwork at the Ritz-Carlton Residences to help AEG attract affluent potential clientele to their vacant, multi-million dollar condo. Yet in return, their valuable art was coldly destroyed."

The promotional event was hosted by AEG in conjunction with the 2011 Los Angeles Art Show.

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