Las Vegas artist wins over $2 million in Hoover Dam copyright suit

Back in 1998, Bert Hansen, the owner of the Hoover Dam's Snacketeria (later renamed the High Scaler Cafe) commissioned Steven Liguori and his company, the Bruno Liguori Turquoise Trading Post, to sculpt a statue honoring the "High Scaler" workers who risked their lives to help build the dam. The initial contract was negotiated for a $166,000 base fee, as well as a 17 percent royalty on all related merchandising.

The statue was a major hit, and Hansen took advantage of its rounding success by manufacturing and selling a large number of souvenirs based off of Liguori's work. According to Liguori, however, Hansen never paid royalties, and the artist brought his case to court in 2011. According to Liguori, Hansen's use of the sculpture went "far beyond the licensed purposes," and was used in everything from menus to marketing materials.

After years in court, the case has finally been resolved in favor of Liguori, with U.S. District Judge George Foley Jr. ordering Hansen to pay a total of $2,148,463 in damages: $1,331,000 for the initial breech in contract, and another $817,463 in interest.

Hutchinson & Steffen, the law firm representing Liguori, announced the decision this past Thursday, stating that "A jury of his peers found that he just wasn't treated fairly. Not only did they breach the contract they had with him, they also infringed on the copyright he had. And to be awarded the highest statutory amount was kind of the icing on the cake."

If you believe that someone is profiting from your work without your permission, it's important to act sooner, rather than later. Contact a skilled business attorney as quickly as possible.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

This post was written by