Battle Over Barnes Heads Back To Court

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - The ongoing legal battle to keep the world-renowned Barnes Foundation art collection from moving to Philadelphia from Lower Merion heads back to a courtroom in Montgomery County this afternoon.

The doors of the Barnes Foundation in Merion were closed early last month as preparations begin for the move to its new home on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. But opponents of the move say they still want another day in court and that's expected this afternoon.

Montgomery County Orphans' Court Judge Stanley Ott is expected to hear oral arguments from the attorney representing the Friends of the Barnes Foundation.

Attorney Samuel Stretton is expected to argue that the case should be re-opened based on what he says is newly available evidence of misconduct involving then-Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher. Stretton says Fisher made statements in the documentary "The Art of the Steal" that could impact the case. He's expected to argue the court was deceived and that Judge Ott didn't have all the information before his decision to allow the multi-million dollar art collection to be transferred from Lower Merion to a new home in Philadelphia.

Reported by Suburban Bureau Chief Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060