While Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert O'Brien agreed to block the sale Friday, he imposed a $250,000 bond that Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill would have to pay to get a restraining order issued. Her attorney, Ronald Palmieri, said the amount is too high and can't be met.
"We won on a legal basis, and the judge took it away from us on an economic basis," Palmieri said. "That is very sad."
Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill is the daughter of Ball and first husband Desi Arnaz. She sought the return of some of the items after Susie Morton, the widow of Ball's second husband, Gary Morton, offered them for sale.
Ball and Gary Morton were married until the time of the actress' death in 1989. He later married Susie Morton. She consigned several items to Heritage Auction Galleries, including a Rolls-Royce, some of the couple's love letters, photos and Ball's personal items. The items are scheduled to go on sale Saturday at an auction being conducted online and in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Morton sued Luckinbill this week, seeking a judge's order allowing the sale to go forward. Luckinbill in turn sought the restraining order Friday.
Through Palmieri, she had sought the return of the love letters and Ball's lifetime achievement awards, which she said would be donated to a museum honoring her mother.
Heritage President Greg Rohan has said the auction house supported Susie Morton and had received documentation from her affirming her right to sell the items.
Susie Morton's lawsuit claimed that Luckinbill had forfeited her right to the items after her mother's estate was distributed.
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I hope Susie Morton has the decency to allow Lucie Arnaz to obtain her mother's personal items or at least donates them to the Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown, NY. It's a shame to use Lucille Ball's legacy for her own personal gain without even asking Lucy's own children first.
I hope if these items are auctioned, that the people who buy them would donate them or offer them back to Lucie.
Lucie arnaz luckinbill should receive everything. That was her mother.
ReplyDeleteI think its terrible this is happening! Her awards are the last thing that should be auctioned off!
ReplyDeleteShe says she's kept these items for more than 10 years out of respect for Lucy and Gary's Legacy but auctioning off all of these items to make herself money doesn't sound too respectful!! Sounds to me she needs some money.
Lucie should receive everything! So she can treasure what she wants for herself and her family and share what she wants with Lucy's fans!!
Give these items to her family! Been there! Gold digger!
ReplyDeleteNO ONE AND I MEAN NO ONE BUT LUCILLE BALLS CHILDERN SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SELL OR AUCTION OFF THEIR MOMS BELONINGS I DONT CARE WHO THAT MORTON WOMAN WAS MARRIED TO. I BET GARY WOULD AGREE WITH ME.
ReplyDeleteIf Mrs. Morton is the rightful owner, she should be allowed to sell her own property. If Lucy Arnaz doesn't like it and it's so important to her, she -- or one of her mother's fans -- should bid on them at auction, then give the items to the museum. Who is to say that Mrs. Morton is not in need of the proceeds of the auction? Stop this mushy, sentimental hero worship. If you were in "That Morton Woman's" shoes, you would certainly do the same.
ReplyDelete