MajorsDec 20, 2021
David Yurman Sues Mejuri Over Alleged IP TheftIndependentsJan 11, 2022
The Lawsuit Against CD Peacock Has Been Dismissed
The employee who filed suit against the jeweler in February 2021 dismissed her claims shortly thereafter, court papers show.
A former employee who sued C.D. Peacock claiming the jeweler fired employees who blew the whistle on its alleged sale of luxury watches in the gray market voluntarily dismissed her case last year. (Image courtesy of C.D. Peacock’s website)
Chicago—The lawsuit filed last winter against longtime Chicago jeweler C.D. Peacock was voluntarily dismissed just a couple months after it was filed and has not been brought again, court papers show.
In February 2021, former employee Suzana Krajisnik filed suit against C.D. Peacock owner Seymour Holtzman and four employees in federal court in Illinois.
She accused the jeweler of conspiring to sell Rolex and Patek Philippe watches to gray market resellers and firing employees, including Krajisnik in December 2019, who blew the whistle on the alleged scheme.
In the suit, two other former C.D. Peacock employees, fired in June 2020 and January 2021, backed up her claims, alleging they were also fired for notifying management of the situation and refusing to participate.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, a spokesperson for C.D. Peacock called Krajisnik’s claims “baseless” and said she was “terminated for cause.”
“In an industry where demand far exceeds supply for generational timepieces, we value transparency and accountability,” the company said. “We follow all guidelines to preserve our brand partnerships.”
In February 2021, former employee Suzana Krajisnik filed suit against C.D. Peacock owner Seymour Holtzman and four employees in federal court in Illinois.
She accused the jeweler of conspiring to sell Rolex and Patek Philippe watches to gray market resellers and firing employees, including Krajisnik in December 2019, who blew the whistle on the alleged scheme.
In the suit, two other former C.D. Peacock employees, fired in June 2020 and January 2021, backed up her claims, alleging they were also fired for notifying management of the situation and refusing to participate.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, a spokesperson for C.D. Peacock called Krajisnik’s claims “baseless” and said she was “terminated for cause.”
“In an industry where demand far exceeds supply for generational timepieces, we value transparency and accountability,” the company said. “We follow all guidelines to preserve our brand partnerships.”
In April 2021, just about two months after the initial suit was filed, court documents show that Krajisnik dismissed the case without prejudice, which leaves the door open for a potential refiling.
“The company is gratified that the baseless claims were abandoned and are now in the rearview mirror,” a C.D. Peacock spokesperson said about the dismissal.
Krajisnik’s legal team did not respond to repeated requests for comment regarding the nature of the dismissal or if a refiling is being considered.
The case had not been refiled as of press time.
Court documents paint a contentious picture of the proceedings leading up to the dismissal.
After the initial lawsuit filing, C.D. Peacock filed a motion in February to seal certain exhibits submitted by Krajisnik, arguing that they contained confidential information.
The motion was granted and Krajisnik’s team submitted redacted versions, but she then filed a motion for reconsideration in March, which was ultimately not ruled on.
She argued that the jeweler was not trying to protect trade secrets but was looking to “keep its misconduct out of the public view, and, by extension, protect its relationship with suppliers like Rolex, which would be damaged if the illegal scheme were exposed.”
She backed up this claim by noting that C.D. Peacock had tried to keep the matter out of court altogether.
Following her termination, Krajisnik sent an email to Holtzman in December 2019, court documents show, detailing the alleged scheme and stating she believed she was fired for speaking out about it.
The jeweler, now aware of the employees’ accusations, sought to “win the proverbial race to the courthouse,” said the plaintiff’s team, and filed a complaint for declaratory judgment on Aug. 27, 2020 in the circuit court of Cook County in Illinois, asserting that the employees had to arbitrate any claims brought against C.D. Peacock.
The complaint was dismissed without prejudice, in part because C.D. Peacock did not provide copies of the alleged agreements that bound the employees to arbitrate claims, court papers show.
In the federal case, C.D. Peacock’s team asked for additional time, two weeks, to respond to Krajisnik’s motion for reconsideration on the ruling to seal documents, but the plaintiff’s team countered they could give only two days.
The bickering elicited a scolding of the plaintiff’s attorney from U.S. District Court Judge John Z. Lee, who granted the two-week extension.
“The court expects more from the attorneys who practice in the Northern District of Illinois,” he said, adding that attorneys can “zealously represent the interests of their respective clients, while simultaneously extending to one another some basic degree of professional courtesy.”
CD Peacock’s team said in April that Krajisnik’s insistence on reconsideration of the motion to seal exhibits, despite the court’s prior ruling, was “a clear misuse of the judicial process and an improper attempt to increase the expense and contentiousness of this litigation.”
Krajisnik voluntarily dismissed the case later that month.
There have been no changes to C.D. Peacock’s watch distribution, said a spokesperson, and its website still advertises the jeweler as an authorized Rolex and Patek Philippe dealer.
C.D. Peacock was founded in Chicago in 1837, making it one of the city’s oldest retailers, and has three locations in Illinois.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Etsy to Lay Off 12% of WorkforceEtsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.
