“Kevin Zavian, 67, who regularly appears on Antiques Roadshow, has hit back at his sisters – who accused him of stealing $6 million in precious jewelry from their family business.”, — write: www.dailymail.co.uk
Kevin Zavian, 67, who regularly appears on the PBS show appraising jewelry and watches, has filed a $165 million lawsuit against his younger sisters, Ellen, 61, and Robin, 66 – claiming they are actually the ones who are thieving and conniving.
The sisters had filed a police report against Kevin back in February, alleging he stole pieces from Cluster Jewelry – a store founded by their grandfather and their great uncle.
But Kevin says he was just acting on behalf of their elderly father, Berj, 95, and that all of the jewelry he took belonged to either Kevin, himself, their father, or William Doyle Auction House – where Berj launched a jewelry department back in 1974.
He argues in the complaint, which was first reported by the Independent, that he has since returned much of the items to the Manhattan jewelry store, but his reputation has been permanently destroyed by their claims.
Meanwhile, both Kevin and Berj claim the sisters have ‘systematically looted’ at least $1 million worth of diamonds and jewelry ‘without proper documentation or accounting’ from Cluster Jewelry.
The losses, they argue, have forced the landlord to refuse to renew their family business’ lease in New York City’s acclaimed Diamond District.
‘This disgraceful plundering of the family heritage demonstrates the depths to which Defendants are willing to sink in their ruthless scheme to enrich themselves at the expense of their brother and elderly father,’ reads the suit, which was filed in New York State Supreme Court on Friday.
According to the lawsuit, Berj – who is named as a co-plaintiff – had always intended for his three children to evenly own Cluster.
But in 2014, it says, Ellen ‘induced’ Berj, who was 84 years old at the time , to sign a legal document making her and Robin the sole owners of the jewelry firm.
‘Ellen deliberately did not fully explain to Berj that the document excluded Kevin as owner, contrary to Berj’s wishes and intentions,’ the lawsuit says, noting that Ellen works as a lawyer and her father trusted her legal experience.
‘This shocking betrayal of her own father’s trust represents a disgraceful exploitation of the parent-child relationship,’ lawyers for Kevin and Berj argue, saying her behavior also revealed a ‘disturbing willingness to destroy her brother’s rightful place in the family business’ and a ‘willful intent to disinherit’ Kevin behind his back.
Yet Kevin was allegedly left unaware for more than a decade that he was no longer a co-owner.
Everything then seemed to change when his sisters accused him of stealing from the family business in early February, leading to his arrest.
One month later, the complaint says, Ellen and Robin wrote a letter claiming Kevin stole from the shop – and saying he has ‘never been an owner’ of Cluster Jewelry and ‘has not been an employee of Cluster Jewelry for many years.’
He had instead taken over for Berj as the senior appraiser at William Doyle Galleries in 2010.
‘Defendants knew these statements were false when they made them, particularly Ellen, who signed the tax returns identifying Kevin as a one-third owner,’ the suit contends.
It then goes on to note that the sisters distributed their letter throughout the Diamond District of New York City – known for its jewelers, which caused ‘substantial damage’ to Kevin’s good name.
He has lost clients as a result and numerous industry associates have since declined to work with him, Kevin alleges.
‘This callous attack on Kevin’s professional reputation by his own sisters reveals a shocking disregard for family bonds and basic human decency.’
The suit also accuses Ellen and Robin of ‘surreptitiously and systematically looting… other assets of Cluster Jewelry Co Inc.’ worth at least $1 million in jewelry and diamonds.
It further claims they have been misappropriating funds – and have thus far refused to hand over financial records, inventory lists or other documentation that Kevin and Berj have requested.
‘This disgraceful plundering of the family heritage demonstrates the depths to which Defendants are willing to sink in their ruthless scheme to enrich themselves at the expense of their brother and elderly father,’ the suit argues.
In one shocking detail alleged in the suit, Robin is accused of physically assaulting both Kevin and Berj.
The attack on Kevin was allegedly caught on video surveillance outside their family’s jewelry shop, and in a separate incident Robin allegedly hit their father on the head ‘causing him pain and distress.’
‘That a daughter would raise her hand against her elderly father – a man who has dedicated his life to building a business for his children’s benefit – is deeply disturbing and reveals a profound moral failure that this Court should take into account when assessing the credibility of the Defendants,’ Kevin and Berj argue.
Nevertheless, the lawsuit claims, Ellen and Robin had the nerve to try to take out a protective order against their brother – which was ultimately dismissed for lack of merit.
The lawsuit ends by saying that the sisters’ actions have caused Kevin emotional distress, humiliation and a loss of sleep.
Berj, meanwhile, has allegedly suffered ‘distress at seeing his son’s reputation attacked, physical pain from being assaulted, anxiety over the fate of the family business he built and the profound emotional trauma of having his daughters betray his trust.’
The suit claims: ‘At 95 years old, Berj has been forced to witness his daughters’ cruel attempt to destroy the legacy he spent a lifetime building for all his children – a devastating blow to a man in the twilight of his life who deserves peace and the comfort of knowing his family will honor his wishes.’
The father-and-son duo are now asking the New York State Supreme Court to hand down an order barring the sisters from making any more defamatory statements, to retract the ones they have already made and to formally recognize Kevin as a one-third owner of the family business.
They are seeking $15 million on 11 causes of action, for a total of $165 million in damages plus court costs and attorneys fees.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Ellen for comment. Contact information for Robin could not be ascertained.