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Caretaker of ‘LOVE’ artist Robert Indiana sues for cost of legal defense

The caretaker accused in a lawsuit of purposefully isolating pop artist Robert Indiana before his death is suing Indiana's estate for $2 million to cover his legal fees.

FILE - Robert Indiana in a Sept. 24, 2013, file photo.
FILE - Robert Indiana in a Sept. 24, 2013, file photo.Read moreLauren Casselberry / AP

ROCKLAND, Maine — The caretaker accused in a lawsuit of isolating Robert Indiana, the artist known for Philadelphia’s LOVE sculpture, and taking advantage of him before his death is suing the pop artist’s estate for $2 million to cover his legal fees.

Jamie Thomas worked for Indiana for three decades and serves on the Star of Hope foundation, which aims to transform Indiana's island home in Maine into a museum to display his work. The lawsuit contends Thomas was trusted by the artist and "fought to secure his artistic legacy."

But Thomas and another man are accused in a federal lawsuit filed in New York of insinuating themselves into Indiana's life and making unauthorized reproductions of his work.

That lawsuit was filed the day before Indiana’s death on May 19, 2018, at age 89 on Vinalhaven Island, 15 miles off Rockland.

Thomas contends that the actions he undertook at Indiana's request made him legally vulnerable and that Indiana expressed his wish "to protect Mr. Thomas at all costs." His lawsuit against Indiana's estate was filed Friday in Superior Court in Rockland.

The estate of Indiana, best known for his LOVE artworks, is currently valued at about $66 million — virtually of it artwork.

James Brannan, attorney for the estate, said Monday that Thomas shouldn’t be reimbursed because of breach of his fiduciary duties. He said he would be filing a counterclaim.