The AP just reported that the lawsuits brought by three Gee’s Bend quilters, Annie Mae Young, Lucinda Pettway Franklin, and Loretta Pettway have been dropped.
The lawsuits were aimed at Tinwood Ventures, William Arnett and his sons Matt and Paul (Tinwood was founded by the Arnetts). Paul was dismissed from any lawsuits last year.
A small portion of the article reads:
An attorney representing the quilters, Peter Burke of Birmingham, said the lawsuits “have been resolved.” He would not elaborate.
An attorney for the defendants, Greg Hawley of Birmingham, would only say that his clients “are pleased the cases have been dismissed.”
Franklin claimed in her lawsuit that the Arnett family stole from her two quilts that she said were more than 100 years old (me: pics of those quilts are above). Pettway claimed she was tricked into signing a copyright document, even though she could not read.
Attorneys for the Arnetts had called the lawsuits frivolous.
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Ah, at least it’s over.