On October 31, 2023, ECBAWM filed a lawsuit in Supreme Court, New York County on behalf of an artist alleging that he was raped by Jerry Gorovoy, longtime assistant to famed artist Louise Bourgeois, prominent art collector, and President of Bourgeois’s legacy foundation, the Easton Foundation.

The suit alleges that Mr. Gorovoy groomed, sexually abused, and repeatedly raped David Hines, a young, vulnerable artist.  The suit claims Mr. Gorovoy offered to assist Mr. Hines in his art career, and then methodically worked to gain and maintain complete control over Mr. Hines’s life, including his finances, professional opportunities, social interactions, housing, and immigration status, and then sexually assaulted and forcefully raped him despite Mr. Hines refusing and saying he was not gay.

Now, pursuant to the New York Adult Survivors Act, which provides a one-year window for survivors of sexual assault to file civil claims against perpetrators, Mr. Hines has filed this case to finally seek justice and accountability for the physical and emotional harm he suffered.

“This case is about the abuse of power that is at the heart of all rape cases,” said ECBAWM partner Zoe Salzman.

“When David Hines arrived in New York in 2000, he was a talented artist with his whole life and career ahead of him,” said ECBAWM attorney Nick Bourland.  “As alleged in the suit, Mr. Gorovoy used his power, influence, and position as a gatekeeper in the art world to prey on and sexually abuse David.  We are determined to pursue justice for David under the ASA.”

Mr. Hines is represented by ECBAWM attorneys Zoe Salzman and Nick Bourland, and their co-counsel Elizabeth Geddes and Nadia Shihata of Shihata & Geddes LLP, and Harry Petchesky of Scarola Zubatov Schaffzin PLLC.

Press
“Curator and Longtime Assistant of Louise Bourgeois Foundation Accused of Rape in New Lawsuit”
“Renowned Art World Insider Accused of Raping Rising Artist”