Locke Lord Team Secures Dismissal of Lawsuit Regarding Ownership of “Wizard of Oz” Dress

Locke Lord’s Amin Al-Sarraf (Los Angeles) and Shawn Brenhouse (New York) secured the dismissal of a lawsuit against The Catholic University of America (the University) regarding the ownership of a dress Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in the movie, “The Wizard of Oz.”

The iconic dress, which was gifted to the University by Oscar-winning actress Mercedes McCambridge in 1973, was slated for auction nearly two years ago, with the proceeds intended to benefit the University’s drama program. The Plaintiff, an heir to Father Gilbert Hartke, who accepted the gift on behalf of the University, claimed ownership of the storied dress alleging it was Father Hartke’s property. On December 11, 2023, a New York federal judge dismissed the case, ruling that the Plaintiff failed to establish any legal standing to pursue an ownership claim to the dress. The judge denied leave to amend on January 23, 2024.
Posted on January 26, 2024