District and federal court judges who have worked tirelessly through the myriad lawsuits brought by pop artist Peter Max’s two children, Libra and Adam, against each other (accusing of having abused their father, who suffered from dementia induced by Alzheimer’s disease for the better part of a decade), by the artist’s late widow (accusing Libra and Adam of stealing Max’s artwork from her), by Libra against the personal needs guardian appointed by the courts (a range of charges, including abuse and emotional stress from the family), by this guardian of personal needs against Libra (for defamation) and by Libra against the Associate Chief Administrative Judge of the New York City Court (for improper communications with another judge).
The most recent decision was made by a Manhattan District Court on March 3, when Libra’s lawsuit to remove Court-appointed Personal Needs Guardian Barbara Lissner was dismissed. fired. Judge Valerie Caproni referred to Libra Max’s “30-page rant” about complaints about Lissner, a partner at New York law firm Lissner & Lissner whose specialty is caring for the elderly, ranging from “complaints about visitation and phone limitations calling for the removal of cats from Max’s home to Lissner’s reluctance to share Max’s medical information with her”.
Ultimately, Judge Caproni concluded that “Lissner’s actions and decisions complained of by the plaintiff are reasonable and appropriate given her role as Max’s guardian, including her decisions regarding visits, chats and Mr. Max’s medical care”.
In addition to the now dismissed lawsuit against Lissner, there is a separate lawsuit by ALP, a company set up by artist Peter Max for, among other things, the production, maintenance, marketing, licensing and commercialization of his art, and of which Libra Max is president and CEO, against Lawrence L. Flynn, Peter Max’s court-appointed estate guardian. This case is still pending.
In 2016, Peter Max officially asked the courts to appoint a guardian to manage his finances. His wife, Mary (his second wife, whom he married in 1997), took care of his more personal needs, such as his diet, exercise, doctor visits and other activities. Reports began to circulate that the artist was physically abused and financially exploited, possibly leading to Mary’s death by suicide in 2019. A Personal Needs Guardian was later appointed by the courts.
The years that followed saw a parade of guardians, along with accusations of overcharging and abuse of the artist and family members, as well as arguments between Max’s two children. Libra “has filed numerous applications criticizing Barbara and/or seeking to have Barbara removed as guardian of Mr. Max’s personal needs, concocting nasty accusations and filing one complaint after another, often repeating and amplifying the same allegations without basis,” said Oren Warshavsky, the attorney representing Lissner.
The entertainer himself “is well cared for,” according to Lawrence L. Flynn, noting that money has gotten a little tight, with the result of ALP’s own Peter Max payments being “reduced by 80% in 2019, leaving the guardianship unable to pay many of his expenses. My company and I had to advance about $45,000 to cover Peter’s expenses. Most of it was reimbursed. My court awarded compensation more than two years late, because I can’t pay myself and Peter’s expenses.” The legal profession, however, has done well with family disputes, he says. “Libra has had more than 35 lawyers in the various matters and is currently represented by no less than four law firms, I have no idea what she paid them.
At his peak, Peter Max embodied the current at one with the cosmos of the psychedelic 1960s, writing in his 2013 autobiography The world of Peter Max that through yoga “I had tapped into a vast creative reservoir that was now welling up with an unbroken flow of artistic energy.” he added: “If you are not in the flow, or if you do not feel in the movement, do not resist it; be with that too.
