Last month , Swiss antiquities dealership Phoenix Ancient Art sued The museum and its director , Timothy Smith , for $ 77 m , alleging they had cut it out of an arrangement to " secure rights to " or display objects owned by Italy 's Torlonia family . The museum denied any such agreement existed and said it had “ " the [ offered ] acquisition and The museum says it was offered an opportunity to discuss a possible sale but “declined the acquisition and the objects were later transferred to the Italian government”. the objects were later transferred to the Italian government ” . In the filing , Phoenix ’s legal troubles with Italy are outlined .
Last month , Swiss antiquities dealership Phoenix Ancient Art sued The museum and its director , Timothy Smith , for $ 77 m , alleging they had cut it out of an arrangement to " secure rights to " or display objects owned by Italy 's Torlonia family . The museum denied any such agreement existed and said it had “ " the [ offered ] acquisition and the objects were later transferred to the Italian government ” . In the filing , Phoenix ’s legal troubles with Italy are outlined .