Orlando Museum of Art and Aaron De Groft’s Estate Settle Lawsuits

In a legal resolution, the Orlando Museum of Art and the estate of its former director, Aaron De Groft, have officially dismissed their lawsuits against each other. This settlement follows a high-profile forgery scandal involving alleged Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings, which were seized by the FBI in 2022.

The legal dispute, which stemmed from De Groft’s termination, has now been resolved, allowing both sides to move forward. This article explores the key events that led to this resolution, the impact on the museum’s policies, and the broader implications for art authentication and fraud prevention.

After years of legal back-and-forth, the Orlando Museum of Art and Aaron De Groft’s estate have formally agreed to drop their lawsuits. The decision comes shortly after De Groft’s passing in January 2025, marking a pivotal moment in closing this turbulent chapter for the museum. The legal battle had become a lingering issue for both parties, and this resolution offers a way to move beyond the controversy that had cast a shadow over the institution’s reputation.

The controversy began in June 2022, when the FBI conducted a dramatic raid at the Orlando Museum of Art, seizing 25 paintings that had been attributed to Jean-Michel Basquiat. The authenticity of these works had been widely questioned, leading to allegations of fraud.