Local artist wins claim against Project A

Local artist Sheppard Jones won a default judgment of $3,200 against Project A art gallery in General Sessions Court Monday when the gallery owner failed to appear in court.

Alida Pinson, the owner of the apparently closed Project A art gallery located in the Gulch, was not in attendance. Pinson had turned in a hand-written note asking Judge Casey Moreland for another continuance.

Pinson had been granted a continuance two weeks earlier. Moreland denied her second request. Pinson now has 10 days to appeal the ruling.

Jones is one of two local artists with claims against Pinson, who they say never paid them after their work sold at her gallery. Myles Maillie had a $1,400 claim against Pinson, which was on the docket in General Sessions Court last week as well. Judge Bill Higgins told Maillie he had incorrectly filed against Pinson and needed to re-file against Project A, LLC. Maillie said he intends to acquire an attorney and to re-file his claim against Project A.

Courtroom reality shows Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown have contacted all the involved parties offering to try their cases on television. The artists have said they are willing to do so, but there has been no word from Pinson.