Sotheby's auction house sued CNET Networks Inc. founder Halsey Minor on Wednesday for failing to pay more than $13 million owed for three paintings, including Edward Hicks' "Peaceable Kingdom."

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, accuses Minor of breach of contract for failing to pay for the paintings he purchased in May.

"Sotheby's has made a number of efforts to obtain payment from Minor, but he has refused -- without any legal or other justification -- to make the payments due as required by the contracts," Sotheby's said in the complaint.

Minor could not be immediately reached for comment.

The paintings were purchased for $300,000, $3.9 million and $9.6 million between May 15 and May 22.

A spokeswoman for Sotheby's confirmed that "Peaceable Kingdom" was among the works bought but not paid for by Minor, but declined to name the other two works.

Sotheby's claims that it has incurred $1 million in damages for each painting.