*The Television Academy has filed a lawsuit accusing Heritage Auctions of theft for attempting to sell Whitney Houston’s Emmy statuette. In the docs — filed in L.A. and obtained by TMZ — the Academy included the sticker it says has been affixed to the bottom of everyEmmy handed out between 1978 to 1994. Whitney won hers in 1986. Check out the sticker below.
The sticker makes it clear the statuette is the Academy’s property and the winner’s heirs are “obligated to return” it … as opposed to selling it or throwing it away.
Houston won the award for her Grammy performance of “Saving All My Love for You.” The singer was found dead at age 48 in a hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, on the eve of the 2012 Grammys.
Heritage thinks the Academy is bullying the Houston family because more than 3 dozen other Emmy awards have been auctioned off in the past without restrictions or objections. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court against Heritage Auctions and the late pop star’s estate, saying the sale would violate academy rules.
READ RELATED STORY: Bobby Brown Claims Whitney Houston Had an Affair with Tupac
USA Today reports that the lawsuit includes copyright infringement among its allegations, and is asking for a court order returning Houston’s statuette to the academy. It’s also seeking a jury trial for unspecified damages. The academy also wants a temporary restraining order to halt the trophy’s sale, which is set for Friday and Saturday in Beverly Hills, California.
Greg Rohan, the auction house’s president, said that the lawsuit is without merit and the academy has refused requests for proof that Houston signed an agreement barring its sale.
The Emmy was consigned by Houston’s family and has a starting bid of $10,000, Rohan said.
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