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<\/p>\n\n\tLate last month, WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum filed suit against interior designer Remi Tessier, whose elite clientele includes billionaire art collectors Larry Ellison and Ken Griffin. In court filings, Koum alleged that Tessier inflated prices and misrepresented the quality and origin of luxury goods purchased on his behalf, including several artworks.<\/p>\n
\n\tKoum hired Tessier, according to the filing, as lead designer for nine projects, including multiple residences in the US and Europe, as well as two superyachts. Tessier acted as an agent procuring furnishings and art for those projects worth tens of millions of dollars, according to Koum.<\/p>\n
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\n\tIn the filing, Koum referenced three unnamed art galleries that he said Tessier facilitated acquisitions from, including a $7.8 million Picasso painting for which Tessier allegedly received a $600,000 kickback; two paintings totaling $6 million with a $637,000 kickback; and a $600,000 painting that Tessier allegedly obtained a discount on but did not pass along to Koum.<\/p>\n
\n\tLate last week, the Southern District of New York court revealed who the galleries are\u2014though not which transaction corresponded to which: Acquavella Galleries<\/a>, Nahmad Contemporary<\/a>, and New York Gallery LLC, which appears to be an entity registered at the same address as Perrotin\u2019s New York gallery. (ARTnews\u00a0has reached out to Perrotin for comment.)<\/p>\n \n\tKoum\u2019s original filing sought discovery\u2014the pretrial process by which legal parties are compelled to reveal relevant documents\u2014of those galleries\u2019 records, invoices, and testimony related to the aforementioned transactions. Koum said he hopes the records will help establish the \u201ctrue terms of sale\u201d for the works, as well as any undisclosed commissions, discounts, and actual purchase prices. A judge granted the order on Friday.<\/p>\n \n\tInterestingly, Koum said the discovery is not for a case in the US but for a criminal complaint he intends to file against Tessier in France, where the designer currently lives.<\/p>\n \n\tKoum was careful in his memorandum of law in support of the request for discovery not to suggest any wrongdoing on the part of the galleries.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThrough investigation, Koum has identified these Merchants as those within this District who supplied goods to Tessier for Koum\u2019s projects,\u201d the filing reads. \u201cKoum brings this application on notice to the Merchants. Koum has no reason to suspect these Merchants of any wrongdoing; instead, Koum believes that like himself, the Merchants have been unwillingly\u2014and perhaps unknowingly\u2014drawn into Tessier\u2019s unlawful schemes. Through this Petition, Koum seeks to serve subpoenas on these Merchants to obtain their documentation and testimony\u2014free from Tessier\u2019s influence, obfuscation, and obstruction.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIn the filing, Koum added that his goal was \u201cjustice and accountability\u201d and holding Tessier \u201caccountable\u201d for his \u201cdeceitful pattern.\u201d<\/p>\n