The following is a brief outline of some of the significant highlights from the deposition that was taken of Frank T. Caiazzo on October 28, 2009. The synopsis below corresponds with the pages of the deposition.  Due to the length of the video, it has not been posted.  Mr. Caiazzo's lawyers also objected to any posting of the video for some reason.  The court, however, did not forbid American Royal Arts from posting it.  A link is attached to the written transcripts of the deposition.  It is encouraged that any interested party read the entire deposition to get a full understanding of the sworn testimony given by Mr. Caiazzo under oath in the presence of his attorney.  It is not the intention to provide fragments of the testimony to take it out of context.  Rather, the points are for ease of reference only.

Pages 14-16 (DVD time counter - 15:00) Frank Caiazzo is asked about his credentials and training to support his claim of being a hand-writing expert and the number one Beatles autograph authority in the world. He reveals in his answer that he majored in psychology and construction engineering and has never taken any courses in regard to hand-writing nor is he certified or trained.

 

 

Pages 36-38 (DVD time counter - 15:24) Frank Caiazzo is questioned on where he buys most of his Beatles items. His answer includes dealers (Tracks in the UK), Christies, Sotheby's, auctions. There is no testimony that Frank Caiazzo has a direct link or official connection to The Beatles to acquire signatures.

 

 

Pages 72-73 (DVD time counter - 15:42) Frank Caiazzo testifies that he puts into auction his own pieces. The items he puts up for sale come certified by Frank Caiazzo only. When asked who checks his work, he responds "nobody, just me." One could certainly come to the conclusion that a conflict of interest exists here. The auction houses where Mr. Caiazzo has tried to sell his pieces are named in his deposition - Sotheby's London, Sotheby's New York, Christies New York, It's Only Rock and Roll, Alexander Autographs and E-Bay.

 

 

Pages 109-110 (DVD time counter - 16:41) Frank Caiazzo was asked for supporting information that the Beatles Revolver album in question is "a southern California forgery which now joins its brothers and sisters in the world just having been born recently." He came to his conclusion after reviewing only a scan of the album. Mr. Caiazzo's attorney advises him not to answer the question, arguing it was not relevant to the deposition.

 

 

Pages 118-119 (DVD time counter - 17:13) Frank Caiazzo is handed a document to review established as "Exhibit 15." The document is a certificate of authenticity from Frank Caiazzo which includes provenance for a Please Please Me album signed by The Beatles. Mr. Caiazzo confirms that it is his certificate and his signature on the certificate. This certificate was generated by Mr. Caiazzo for a Please Please Me album. There is no disclosure on the certiifcate that any signatures on the album were lifted off and transferred from another item onto the album. The provenance given on the certificate states that the signatures on the album were obtained by a young girl waiting at the back door after a concert.  Later in the deposition, Mr. Caiazzo talks about the technique of lifting signatures and in his opinion it is acceptable as long as it is disclosed. He certified a Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album manufactured with this process.  Again, this was not disclosed on the certificate.

 

 

Pages 119-123 (DVD time counter - 17:17) Frank Caiazzo has previously been asked to produce certain documents and testifies under oath that his computer crashed and certain e-mails requested would no longer be available. Mr. Caiazzo testifies that he spoke with AOL to try to have the items restored. When asked to produce any correspondence with AOL, Mr. Caiazzo said there was none.

 

 

Pages 165-167 (DVD time counter - 18:19) Frank Caiazzo testifies that Tom Vangelli from Fab Four Collectibles updates Caiazzo's website and that he no longer pays him, but barters or trades certificates of authenticity for his work.

 

 

Pages 177-178 (DVD time counter - 18:27) Frank Caiazzo is asked about a procedure whereby signatures can be taken from one item and transferred to another. He explains the procedure, describing that a restorer "masterfully" transfers the signatures. When asked if he has certified any such items, Mr. Caiazzo answers, "yes, a Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club album."

 

 

Pages 177-178 (DVD time counter - 18:30) Frank Caiazzo is asked again about his background and education that makes him the number one Beatles experts and a handwriting expert. It is confirmed once again that he has had no formal training, has not taken any online course or continuing education classes, nor did he study handwriting analysis in college or received any training from anybody. Mr. Caiazzo confirms that he has "no training at all." He was asked specifically if anybody provided him with any training at all for his credentials. The answer from Mr. Caiazzo: "No." When asked about the methodology he uses in regard to how he receives items he reviews for authentication, he answers that the majority of the process is reviewing scans and comparing them to his exemplars.

 

 

Page 194 (DVD time counter - 18:52) Frank Caiazzo admits that Paul McCartney threatened to sue him.

 

 

Pages 206-216 (DVD time counter - 19:11) Frank Caiazzo is asked to review an e-mail that sent from a woman wishing to find out more information about a signed Beatles photograph. Under oath, Mr. Caiazzo says that Beatles Road Manager Mal Evans signed all four Beatles signatures on the photo. He goes on to say that Mal Evans was "assigned" these photos to sign for The Beatles. When asked for supporting information to back up that claim, he answered, "I am assuming" he was.

 

 

Pages 22-223 (DVD time counter - 19:34) Frank Caiazzo testifies that Perry Cox is the "highest authority" when it comes to the Beatles, yet when asked why Perry Cox said the Beatles Revolver album in question was a "re-release," Mr. Caiazzo's answer is, "I can't explain it...I don't know what to say."

 

 

19:37 - The discussion heats up between both attorneys concerning statements made by Frank Caiazzo regarding the "Southern California forgery ring."

 

 

19:41 - Frank Caiazzo reads aloud the e-mail he sent to a client which states, "It is a Southern California forgery which now joins its brothers and sisters in the world having just been born recently."

Some final thoughts regarding the deposition...

 

It sounds like Mr. Caiazzo has knowledge of where the Revolver in question came from. Remember, he sent the information in writing to an auction house after only reviewing a scan. Also, in minutes, his statement greatly damaged the reputation and credibility of American Royal Arts. This was presented as such a strong factual statement by Frank Caiazzo, and one which he should have been able to answer or support easily. So, the lawyer posed the single question to Mr. Caiazzo again: "How did you know that the album that you reviewed was born recently?" Mr. Caiazzo's attorney advised him not to answer the question. This accusation has been stated several times, why not just be a stand up guy and produce the evidence?