The family of a renowned Mexican-American folk artist who died in an insane asylum is suing Sotheby’s and a retired therapist for $3 million – saying they stole 17 paintings and hid them away for four decades.
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court by the estate of Martín Ramírez, traces the alleged theft back to 1961, when the painter was locked up at a mental hospital in California for schizophrenia.
Ramírez’s doctor, Tarmo Pasto, “took possession” of the paintings and passed them on to a therapist in training, Maureen Hammond, purportedly for research, the suit says.
Hammond allegedly stashed them away, correctly believing they’d become valuable.
When Ramírez died in 1963 at 67 – after spending three decades in mental institutions – his relatives were unaware the paintings existed. But in May, his family learned Hammond had them, the suit says.
Ramírez’s relatives demanded Hammond return them, but the therapist, now retired, allegedly went forward with her plans to sell the paintings through Sotheby’s.
In a statement, Sotheby’s said, “This is a dispute between the estate of Martín Ramírez and Mrs. Maureen Hammond. Sotheby’s will maintain possession of the drawings until the court determines who has title.”
Hammond could not be reached for comment.