CLARK GRAVES ANTIQUES

Description of Work: During June, 2001, I placed 32 antiques on a consignment basis with Robert Morrissey at Clark Graves Antiques. I agreed to use his services exclusively and not those of any other antique dealer. The only antiques consigned were those I authorized to be taken out of my home and placed in his shop. The agreement was 1) to sell each antique for no less than my original purchase price including 5.723% tax. These taxes were never paid to me. 2) to add any increase in value over my original purchase price to each antique. These increases were never paid to me 3) Mr. Morrissey would add his 25% commission on top of that. It was not long before things headed south. There was a woman, who at one time, worked at Clark Graves Antiques on a part-time basis. During that time, Morrissey became very good friends with her and her family. She was aware of the various antiques in my home since most of them were purchased from Clark Graves at Clark Graves Antiques (Mr. Graves was the founder of Clark Graves Antiques until his death around 20 years ago). Morrissey inherited the business from Mr. Graves. There was one piece in particular this woman "friend" liked - a Chinese Export Soup Bowl - for which I had paid $4,500 plus 5.723% tax. She wanted the bowl for nothing. She had her husband call me in hopes of talking me into giving it to her for FREE. I had to pay for it, why shouldn't she? I, of course, said no. This is when the problems really began. I didn't give it to her so the only other choice they had was to talk Morrissey into helping them steal it from me. Morrissey cooperated. Rather than Morrissey focusing on doing a good job for me, his customer, his allegiance now was transferred to her. I retrieved 24 of the 32 antiques I had placed in Morrissey's shop. He held on to eight antiques...the soup bowl being one of them. With these eight pieces, he now had all he needed to pull off his scam. When I finally received payment for all eight pieces, no taxes nor increase in value were ever paid to me...just my original NET cost. HERE'S WHAT HE DID 1) seven of the eight antiques were paid for by check 2) the Chinese Export Soup Bowl was paid for by CASH. From his personal checking account he withdrew 45, $100 bills in cash so there would be no paper trail. He gave this cash to me as full payment for the soup bowl. I asked him where the taxes were. He said " the government has your taxes." This was a hairbrained response...totally ridiculous. I'm sure the IRS would be interested in this transaction. Morrissey's only interest was to accommodate this woman "friend" and her husband. NOW, his goal was to return the $4,500 to his personal checking account. To recover his $4,500 he had to increase his selling price of each of the seven antiques. He simply pro-rated $4,500 over these seven pieces and sold them to new customers. As soon as they were sold he had his money back. This is why I received no increase in value. He used my money to reimburse himself the $4,500. THIS WOMAN "FRIEND" AND HER HUSBAND WOUND UP WITH A FREE SOUP BOWL. I would like to ask Mr. Morrissey...What kind of "friends" would maneuver and manipulate a friend to ask him to lie, steal and cheat on their behalf?" They used him as a patsy...and perhaps for an occasional discount on an antique she would see in his shop. As this woman "friend" and her husband know, any repercussions would be borne by Mr. Morrissey alone. They know this because they are more experienced than he. This woman "friend' and her husband are both in their 80s. Morrissey promotes himself as an appraiser and experienced antique dealer. He is not a businessman, but simply a man-child who inherited a business.