David Shapiro Fine Art

David Shapiro Fine Art regularly delivers expert reports for legal matters involving art valuation, art market practices, and related issues such as disputes involving the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA). David Shapiro is an experienced expert witness, having given testimony in deposition and, extensively, in alternative-dispute resolution proceedings, i.e., arbitration and mediation.

Mr. Shapiro is currently the expert witness in several matters, including the case John Hock v. Franconia Sculpture Park as well as matters involving physical loss to works of art and disputes arising from financial disputes involving works of art.

Mr. Shapiro has performed appraisal services for the federal court case United States v. Luke D. Brugnara (2015); the bankruptcy trial of the City of Detroit (2014); and several cases involving claimed damage and loss in value to fine art, including the following matters:

• Steadfast Insurance Company a/s/o Christie's Inc. v. T.F. Nugent Inc., et al. (involving a Pablo Picasso painting) (2019-22)

• Charles Riva Collection, Inc. v. Mignoni LLC (involving a Donald Judd sculpture) (2022)

• Artemus USA LLC And Edelman Arts, Inc. v. Leila Taghinia-Milani Inc., Leila Heller Art Gallery LLC, Leila Heller and Alexander Heller (involving a Frank Stella sculpture) (2017-20)

• Peter Max, Viamax, Inc., and Alp, Inc. vs. Great American Security Insurance Co. and Interested Underwriters at Lloyds (100,000+ items) (case: 2013-21; testimony in arbitration: 2015-2018)