The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Thursday affirmed sanctions against a plaintiff and his attorney for continuing to pursue an ownership claim over an Andrew Wyeth painting after it was clear the claims were baseless.

The decision of the panel—composed of Chief Judge Robert Katzmann and Judges Denny Chin and Raymond Lohier Jr.—stems from an art ownership arrangement involving the appellant, Reed Galin, and the Wyeth painting titled “Ice Storm.” In 1989, Galin purchased a one-third interest in the painting from long-time friend and art dealer, David Ramus.