Adams v. Christie's, Inc.

OPINION

SUTTELL, Justice.

The controversy underlying this appeal concerns a challenge to the Providence Athenaeum’s proposed sale of its copy of the Double Elephant Folio of John James Audubon’s Birds of America (Audubon folio) at public auction, pursuant to a consignment agreement with Christie’s, Inc., dated February 24, 2003. The Superior Court civil action was filed by fifty-eight named individuals, all shareholders/members of the Providence Athenaeum, against the officers and directors of the Athenae-um, the Athenaeum in its corporate capacity, and Christie’s. The plaintiffs alleged that…