Logan Paul Sues Heritage Auctions Over Michael Jordan Item Authenticity
WWE star and social media influencer Logan Paul has filed a lawsuit against Heritage Auctions in a Texas district court. The legal action focuses on concerns about the authenticity of a fragment of the United Center floor, signed by Michael Jordan, which Paul acquired at an auction. According to court records, Paul alleges that he was not allowed to verify the authenticity of the soil before Heritage requested payment. The original deadline for payment was September 25, and Paul was informed that he would lose his rights to the object if he did not meet the deadline. Paul’s winning bid for the item was $562,555.42, including the buyer’s premium. Paul’s lawyer, Josh Bernstein of Akerman LLP, requested a temporary restraining order and a temporary injunction against Heritage Auctions. The temporary restraining order was granted on Thursday morning, and the date for the hearing on the temporary injunction has been set for October 9.Heritage promoted the floor as “the ultimate Michael Jordan display piece.” The description detailed an 8-by-8-foot section of the “original floor used in United Center games from 1994-98.” It was signed by Jordan and included the inscriptions “Air Jordan”, “5X MVP”, “6X Finals MVP”, “10X Scoring Title”, and “HOF 2009”. The Heritage description also mentioned a certificate of authenticity from Upper Deck Authentication and third-party authentication from PSA/DNA and Beckett Authentication Services. A Heritage spokesperson stated that the auction house does not believe Paul’s claim has merit, adding that concessions were made for Paul to “accommodate any in-person inspection and reasonable efforts for further review.” Paul’s claim alleges that the floor “does not match the floor from 1995-1998, as a result of the floor being replaced or, as Heritage claims, repainted and renovated”. After Paul won the auction, Bernstein requested documentation from Heritage. In emails included in court records, Heritage’s sports auction director, Chris Ivy, acknowledged that there is “no documentation matching the floor of the 1998-99, 1999-2000 or 2000-2001 seasons.” The complaint acknowledges that the Upper Deck certificate refers to the years 1995-98 and that the PSA/DNA certificate “claims to have related the item” to the 2001-02 to 2005-06 seasons. Upper Deck, Beckett, and PSA were not able to be reached for comment.“Authenticity is crucial in the collector community. Collectors like Logan deserve and are entitled to a proof of authenticity that withstands scrutiny and addresses obvious inconsistencies.”
Josh Bernstein
