LIberace Rhinestone Piano Belongs to Gibson, First Circuit Says

The First Circuit upheld a jury verdict finding the charitable arm of Gibson Brands Inc. owns a rhinestone-studded piano previously used by the now-deceased entertainer, Liberace.

Communications between the Gibson Foundation and Rob Norris support the jury’s conclusion that the instrument adorned with an estimated 10,000 rhinestones was temporarily transferred to Norris, not gifted, according to an opinion issued Thursday by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

The decision concludes the case’s second trip to the First Circuit after the court in 2023 revived Gibson’s claims.

In 2011, Gibson allowed Norris to move the Baldwin concert grand ...