LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A bench trial before the Hon. John A. Kronstadt to determine ownership
of the Bahia Emerald will begin on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 9:30
AM at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles,
CA. Judge Kronstadt will probably first rule on Anthony Thomas??? action
to claim ownership of the Bahia Emerald, and probably decide how to move
forward on a separate claim made by Mark Downie. The trial will then
proceed with opening statements in the case and is expected to last two
to five days. Ken Conetto By Eric Kitchen His Attorney In Fact (Petitioner)
vs. Kit Morrison and Todd Armstrong (Respondents); Mark Downie
(Intervenors) vs. Eric Kitchen et al., Kit Morrison and Todd
Armstrong (Respondents), Case No. BS118649.
Browne Greene with the Santa Monica, CA. law firm of Greene Broillet &
Wheeler (www.greene-broillet.com)
and Daniel K. Balaban and Andrew J. Spielberger with the Santa Monica,
CA. law firm of Balaban & Spielberger (www.balaban-spielberger.com)
represent Respondents Kit Morrison, Todd Armstrong, Jerry Ferrara, FM
Holdings, Inc. and Market Link, Inc. At 840 pounds, the Bahia Emerald is
said to be the world???s largest raw emerald. Until the case is resolved,
the Bahia Emerald will remain in custody with the Los Angeles Sheriff???s
Department.
In 2001, the Bahia Emerald was discovered in Brazil and was registered
with the Brazilian Government by owner Renata Joias e Embalagens Ltda.
On August 31, 2004, an Assignment & Bill of Sale was made from Renata
Joias e Embalagens Ltda. to Gemworks Mining, Inc. (Panama). Three years
later on August 22, 2007, there was an assignment of the Bahia Emerald
from Gemworks Mining, Inc. (Panama) to B & B Services, Inc.
In 2008, Respondents Kit Morrison, Todd Armstrong, Jerry Ferrara and
their companies Market Link, Inc. and FM Holdings, Inc. obtained valid
legal title to the Bahia Emerald. They also allege that they have an
equitable claim to title as bona fide purchasers of the Bahia Emerald
based on their seven-figure payment for the Bahia Emerald.
???As such,??? explained Browne Greene, ???my clients who are the Respondents
in this dispute are not only the appropriate owners, having been
conveyed the emerald through a valid chain of legal title, they are also
bona fide good faith purchasers under the law. We have every confidence
that the legal process will get to the bottom of this quagmire and that
my clients will be held to be the rightful owners of the Bahia Emerald.???
Editor???s Note:
Respondents Kit Morrison, Todd Armstrong, Jerry Ferrara, FM Holdings,
Inc. and Market Link, Inc. are represented by Browne Greene with the
Santa Monica, CA. law firm of Greene Broillet & Wheeler (www.greene-broillet.com)
and Daniel K. Balaban and Andrew J. Spielberger with the Santa Monica,
CA. law firm of Balaban & Spielberger (www.balaban-spielberger.com);
Tel: 310.576.1200.
Kenneth Conetto is represented by Eric C. Kitchen of Santa Barbara, CA;
Tel: 805.966.5101.
Anthony Thomas and Wendi Thomas are represented by Randy M. Hess with
Adleson Hess & Kelly of Campbell, CA; Tel: 408.341.0243.
Mark Downie is represented by Steven H. Haney with Haney, Buchanan &
Patterson of Los Angeles, CA.; Tel: 213.228.6500.
Dave Fisher is represented by William Frazer with the Torrance, CA. Law
Offices of Steven R. Bangerter; Tel: 424.247-1136; and Darwin Fisher of
St. George, UT; Tel: 435.688.1170.
Forrest Wayne Catett and Gemworks Mining Inc. (Panama) are represented
by Jerry Kaplan with Kaplan Kenegos & Kadin of Beverly Hills, CA; Tel:
310.859.7700.