HOUSTON, Texas – A Harris County judge issued a temporary restraining order pausing the sale of the art after the original owner, Sam Njunuri claimed it was worth over ten million dollars, according to Joe Walker, attorney for the plaintiff.
The judge ordered Njunuri to get two pieces worth at least one million dollars to fulfill the judgment or have it all inventoried by an art expert.
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“I think that is a good solution,” said Walker.
The private art and the public shed were under the control of Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
An investigation was launched into how the private collection ended up in a public shed that had been refurbished to accommodate the art.
The entire investigation resulted in Ellis being “no-billed” by a Harris County grand jury.
The art sale is being conducted after Njunuri lost a civil case with a million-dollar penalty. The sale of the art will help cover the civil judgment, according to Walker.
The art was supposed to be auctioned this past spring, but Njunuri filed for bankruptcy, Walker added.
The action is proceeding now, according to Walker, because a judge did not allow the bankruptcy filing to happen.
KPRC 2 Investigates will continue to monitor developments on this case throughout the day.