Headlines

Jewelry Store Opens Despite Lawsuit by Execs’ Former Employer

Published

6 years ago

September 13, 2017

INSTORE Staff

They’re accused of taking confidential data.

Meritage Fine Jewelers is up and running in Maryland despite legal action filed by Smyth Jewelers, where some of its executives used to work.

Located in Lutherville, the new store emphasizes bridal pieces, the Baltimore Sun reports.

One of the owners, Jennifer McCullough, is quoted saying the business will “provide equal or better value than any Internet provider, with a personalized level of service that will help our customers fall in love with jewelry buying.”

In June it was reported that Smyth Jewelers was suing several ex-employees as they launched launch Meritage. Smyth accused some of the former employees of taking confidential data, including customer lists.

Defendants in the lawsuit were former Smyth Chief Operating Officer Mark Motes, former Vice President of Operations John Jackson III and former employees Mason Motes and Brian McCullough. The case is in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

The Baltimore Business Journal reports that in August, Smyth “dropped the claims against [Jackson, Brian McCullough and Mason Motes] in return for gaining access to a Dropbox account controlled by Jackson.”

Now Smyth, which operates three stores, is seeking to amend its lawsuit to include Jackson and Meritage, according to the Journal.

It wants the court to block Meritage from reaching out to the contacts in the Dropbox files. That includes customers as well as vendors and employees.

Read more at the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Business Journal

Wilkerson Testimonials

Wilkerson: “They Feel Like Family”

Newton’s Jewelers in Fort Smith, Ark., was a true institution. But after being at the helm for most of his life, owner (and descendent of the original founder) Kelly Newton decided it was time to retire. He chose Wilkerson to handle the sale. “I’ve known the owners of Wilkerson for a long, long time. I felt at home with them,” he says. The final retirement sale was just a “blast” and the Wilkerson sales team made it so very simple and straightforward, says Newton. Would he recommend Wilkerson to others? Absolutely. “They’ve done incredible work,” says Newton. “They feel like family.”