Swedish heiress loses custody of Elvis's painting

A Swedish heiress has lost a court fight for custody of an Elvis's painting by Andy Warhol.

Photo: Swedish heiress loses custody of Elvis's painting

Kerstin Lindholm had appealed a court ruling that declared newsprint magnate Peter Brant the rightful owner of "Red Elvis," a 6-foot (1.8-meter) tall painting worth as much as $12 million (8.9 million EUR).

In an opinion released Monday, the Connecticut Supreme Court unanimously said Brant was the owner of the 1962 silk screen that features 36 identical images of Elvis Presley's face.

Brant bought "Red Elvis" seven years ago from Lindholm's art dealer, who was later convicted of stealing it.

Brant, a longtime Warhol collector, paid $2.9 million to buy the painting while it was on exhibit in Europe.

In 2003, Swedish art dealer Anders Malmberg began serving a three-year term in Sweden on criminal theft charges in connection with the sale of "Red Elvis."

Lindholm had filed a civil suit alleging that Brant and Malmberg conspired to buy the painting without her permission.

But Superior Court Judge Chase Rogers ruled in 2005 that Brant made a reasonable effort to confirm that Malmberg was authorized to sell the painting.

The Supreme Court agreed, noting that Brant hired an attorney to conduct an investigation and insisted on a formal contract.

"Our position that he was a good-faith purchaser of the 'Red Elvis' has now been confirmed by the state Supreme Court," said Jay Sandak, Brant's attorney. "To have the Supreme Court once and for all set the record straight is gratifying."