David Orgell, Beverly Hills' Legendary Retailer of Luxury Brand Watches, Jewelry and Fine Antiques, Files Suit Against Chopard USA and Chopard Geneve for Unlawful, Unfair and Discriminatory Business Practices.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- According to the Complaint, the Swiss-Based Company's Actions Are Part of an Overall Anticompetitive Scheme on the Part of Chopard USA

Beverly Hills' David Orgell, renown for generations for bringing the best luxury watches, jewelry and antiques to Southern Californians, announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Swiss-based watch and jewelry manufacturer, Chopard USA and Chopard Geneve, claiming that their anticompetitive actions have adversely impacted Orgell's business, and its relationships with its longtime customers.

Triggering the lawsuit was the establishment of a competing Chopard USA retail boutique entity on Rodeo Drive, right next door to Orgell, followed by the abrupt termination of Orgell's distribution agreement by Chopard. This anticompetitive action was in direct breach of Orgell's exclusivity agreement with Chopard. Other Chopard distributors in outlying non-competing geographic areas have not been terminated.

Under the agreement between the two companies, Orgell had been the exclusive distributor and retailer of Chopard watches and jewelry products on Rodeo Drive since 1996. Over the years, Orgell developed a substantial clientele for the Chopard brand, as well as a number of regular Chopard watch and jewelry collectors. Moreover, Orgell introduced almost every new collection that Chopard has imported to the United States, and can be credited with creating the heightened demand for Chopard's luxury products in the Beverly Hills area.

There had been a mutually beneficial working partnership between the two companies since the agreement's inception. Orgell expended large resources in merchandising Chopard products, dedicating a special "Chopard Corner" selling space, within the Orgell store facing Rodeo Drive. Prior to the termination, Chopard USA had fully supported Orgell's sales of their products with marketing incentives, merchandising support and cooperative advertising.

Orgell's attorney, Donald R. Pepperman, of Blecher & Collins, P.C. commented: "In recent years, manufacturers have begun to eliminate their distributors and open direct sales outlets and boutiques for their products attempting to take away the business and customers of those loyal and long established distributors. Such anticompetitive terminations, without justification, are unfair and discriminatory and stifle price competition and restrict consumer choice."

The suit was filed in the California Superior Court in Los Angeles.

About David Orgell

David Orgell is the oldest merchant on Rodeo Drive, offering such diverse offerings as tapestries, priceless antiques, crystal, jewelry and timepieces.