© Patrick McMullan Photography

CNET founder and collector Halsey Minor, right, with Gagosian's Deborah McLeod

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Christie’s has alleged that the suit has no merit and is threatening to countersue. Minor is already facing a lawsuit from Sotheby’s, which sued the collector in September for his failure to pay for several paintings he won at auction, including Edward Hicks's Peaceable Kingdom. Minor claimed that the house had concealed a financial stake in selling the work.

In his suit against Christie’s, Minor argues that the auction house hindered his sale of the seven Prince paintings, which he estimated at $25 million, reports the Charlottesville Daily Progress.

The suit accuses Christie’s of breach of implied contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud. It alleges that the house continued to hold onto the Prince paintings for a possible sale and refused to return them to Minor even as he requested them back, a period beginning in May and ending in November.

“Christie’s offered a series of shifting excuses and conditions that it demanded be satisfied before the artworks would be returned,” the suit says. “Only after Minor threatened legal action did Christie’s drop these spurious excuses and conditions and unconditionally return the artworks. But by then the damage was done. During the intervening months in which Christie’s had refused their return, the artworks fell precipitously in value.”

Christie’s responded strongly. “We believe this lawsuit has no merit and we will defend Christie’s vigorously,” said a spokesperson in a written statement. “Furthermore, we intend to sue Mr. Minor for the $10 million-plus that he owes Christie’s, as well as related legal fees.”