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.

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.
The Latest

From a slowdown in sales growth to rising costs, Fruchtman Marketing outlines its expectations for the second half of the year.

Once a part of Julius Klein Group, the diamond company combines its direct supply and cutting expertise with a keen eye to the future.

One analyst cited rising diamond prices and the sanctions on Alrosa as contributing factors.

When it comes to knowing the identity and quality of your pearls, count on GIA as your independent pearl experts.

The two have partnered on a capsule collection.

John A. Green of retailer Lux Bond & Green and Niveet Nagpal of Omi Privé have joined the board of directors as of May 18.

The retailer also said demand for Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet watches continues to exceed its supply.

Advanced technology levels the playing field, helping jewelers give customers what they want.

The auction house’s upcoming sale also includes collections from American heiresses.

The chapter has organized a day trip to the Sterling Hill Mine and Museum in Ogdensburg on Saturday, May 21.

The stones come from a deposit close to Mahenge and have been on the market for several months.

The jewelry designer is partnering with popcorn brand Angie’s Boomchickapop on a whimsical diamond cut.

In the latest article from The Smart Lab, Emmanuel Raheb outlines the website changes jewelers can expect with this new software.

The new app allows salespeople to quickly and easily access a lot of inventory.

Following its Paris debut, “Cartier and Islamic Art: In Search of Modernity” has landed at the Dallas Museum of Art.

The Kansas retailer is aiming for a fall 2023 opening.

It will be located in Vietnam’s Binh Duong Province, and construction is slated to start early next year.

It’s full of hundreds of contacts for jewelry-making supplies and services.

The company is feeling the impact of the uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic environment, said CEO Beth Gerstein.

It became the most valuable vintage Audemars Piguet watch ever sold at auction, according to Sotheby’s.

It’s a sneak peek of the newness that will be on display at the Couture Show next month.

Moshe Salem was re-elected as president, but there is a new treasurer, secretary, and board members.

The 228-carat stone came in at the low end of its estimated range while “The Red Cross Diamond” exceeded expectations at $14.3 million.

The New York City native was honored at the annual Fashion Group International awards ceremony, held Tuesday night.

The Independent Jewelers Organization, the Company of Master Jewellers, and Nationwide Jewellers have formed the Global Jewellers Network.

Registration for the June 9 event at the Westin Hotel is now open.

Filled with custom-cut gemstones, it’s inspired by the moon.