Yves Bouvier, a Swiss art dealer embroiled in a new criminal case against fellow dealer Antoine Peretti in France, has turned his sights on Sotheby’s. In a move under Section 1782, Bouvier has asked the court to compel Sotheby’s to hand over records related to a Pablo Picasso painting purchased by Bouvier from Peretti for $7.25 million.

The Swiss dealer alleges that weeks after the purchase, the painting was resold through Milocci Limited, now known as de Sarthe Gallery, to Sotheby’s for a net seller price of $9 million. Peretti allegedly failed to inform Bouvier about this sale or return his share of any profit, sparking a criminal complaint filed with the Paris prosecutor.

Bouvier demands documents from Sotheby’s including sale agreements and financial records, arguing that as a foreign proceeding, he has no practical alternative source for these critical papers. His latest move comes amidst a decade-long saga marked by legal battles and accusations of overcharging, only to find himself using the same discovery process he once opposed.

The Peretti name looms large in this case, with Antoine’s father being described as Bouvier's adviser during dealings with Sotheby’s. This twist highlights the complex and often murky world of international art deals and legal disputes.