By the Daily Press Staff
A Santa Monica woman has sued an Aspen moving company this month because a fine art painting she owns was allegedly torn apart by a forklift truck.
Darlene Vare filed her lawsuit against Aspen-based Columbine Moving and Storage Co. on the claim that her oil canvas titled, “Dream of Love,” painted by 19th Century Italian artist Franscisco Vinea, was “severely damaged when a forklift truck was driven into the painting,” the suit says.
As a result the painting sustained holes and tears to the canvas and the frame, and it diminished in value, Vare claims.
“Well, being in business 24 years, this happens,” said Bill Ortmann, owner of Columbine Storage.
Vare’s suit says Columbine handled the shipping of the art from her Aspen home to her residence in Santa Monica. The painting was supposed to have a $30,000 insurance policy on it in case it was damaged, the suit says.
But the suit claims there was no shipping insurance and Vare is seeking actual damages, along with exemplary and punitive damages, which are awarded on an increased scale.
Her suit also wants a jury trial and said she has suffered “emotional distress.”
Ortmann, however, said his company contracted with Federal Express to ship the art. FedEx is not named in the suit.
“I don’t think this is frivolous,” Ortmann said. “I just think she is going up the wrong tree.”
Ortmann, who was served a few weeks ago, also said Vare is still a “valued” customer and still uses his storage services.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 21, 2001. Read the original PDF.