KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A judge in Missouri has dismissed claims asserting that UMB Bank mishandled the estate of renowned American artist Thomas Hart Benton by undervaluing and losing artwork. Judge Mark Styles determined that during the administration of the Benton Trust, the bank could only account for five pieces of Benton’s work, which are thought to be sketches or studies rather than full paintings, according to KCUR-FM.

On December 13, the Jackson County Circuit Court judge awarded the heirs of Benton a total of $35,000, a small portion of the $85 million that his family had pursued through a lawsuit initiated in 2019. In response, the bank expressed satisfaction with the ruling, while the family’s legal representatives indicated that they are contemplating an appeal.

“Our belief in the strength of the case for the Benton family remains unwavering despite the outcome of this trial,” remarked Kent Emison from the Langdon & Emison law firm, which represented the Benton family in the lawsuit.

Thomas Hart Benton, who passed away on January 19, 1975, in Kansas City, is celebrated for his vivid representation of Midwestern life during the 20th century. His artworks and murals can be found in various prestigious museums across the United States, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.

A particular transaction that raised eyebrows was the 1986 sale of Benton’s piece “Persephone,” featuring the Greek goddess in a vulnerable pose, sold to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for $2.5 million. Concerns arose from the fact that a former UMB chairman and board member also served on the board of the Kansas City museum at the time of this sale. However, the judge concluded there was no evidence of wrongdoing associated with this deal.

Judge Styles stated, “The claim that UMB sold Benton’s artwork for less than its fair value while acting as trustee of the Benton Trust is ultimately baseless.”