12/12/2001

Alfred Taubman, Sotheby’s ex-Chairman was found guilty on the 5^th of December in a federal court in New York of conspiring in fixing art buyer commission rates with rivals Christie’s. Though both auction houses were on trial – it was Sotheby’s who took the rap with Mr. Taubman’s role in the collusion being the focus of the 16-day courtroom drama. He faces up to three years in prison and a multi-million dollar fine with sentencing planned for April 2002. Diana “Dede” Brooks also faces a three year jail term, but her defence are hoping to shorten any sentence, pointing to her recent charitable work in Haarlem, New York where she taught deprived children. Christie’s have managed to come out of the trial relatively untarnished – fines were lessened after the company’s former chief executive, Christopher Davidge agreed to hand over key documentary evidence in 1999 which showed the cosy relationship between the two rivals. For this Davidge has avoided prosecution while Christie’s ex-chairman Sir Anthony Tennant did not have to face trial. (Andrew Moore)