Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz might be great at starting fastballs down the middle of home plate, but it appears his eye for diamonds could use some work.
According to the recently-filed lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court, Ortiz is suing “jeweler” Randy Hamida (or Hamideh) of Anaheim, Calif., after claiming to have purchased $127,000 worth of tainted, or “low-quality” shines from him back in 2010. Evan Allen of the Boston Globe fills in some of the details of the suit:
Ortiz, who like many prominent athletes wears expensive jewelry and accessories, is accusing Randy Hamida of Anaheim, Calif., as well as Randy’s Mens Wear, Ltd. Inc., of fraud, breach of contract, and other violations stemming from a 2010 purchase. The man known as Big Papi thought he had bought a Breitling watch with diamonds and white and yellow gold, a diamond bracelet, and a set of black diamond earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet, according to a civil suit filed in Middlesex Superior Court on Thursday .
According to the suit, Hamida approached Ortiz in September 2010 at the Red Sox’ team hotel in Seattle, and Ortiz asked Hamida to meet him in Massachusetts at the end of the season. The two met in October, and Hamida presented Ortiz with “allegedly custom-designed jewelry of the highest quality gold, diamonds, and other precious gemstones,” according to the suit. Ortiz paid with a check for $80,000 and about $47,000 worth of his own jewelry. After Ortiz discovered the jewelry was not worth what he paid, Hamida initially attempted to avoid Ortiz, according to the suit, but ultimately met with him in April 2011 when the Red Sox traveled to Anaheim. “Hamida acknowledged to Ortiz that the jewelry was of a lesser value than he represented, and promised a full refund and a return of Ortiz’s necklace,” according to the suit. But Hamida failed to pay, according to the suit. When Ortiz confronted him about it, Hamida again apologized and promised to pay, but said he needed until the end of 2011 because of financial problems, according to the suit. Hamida asked Ortiz to return the jewelry so he could sell it to raise the money to repay Ortiz the $80,000, according to the suit. Hamida told Ortiz he would return the slugger’s necklace the next time Hamida saw him, the lawsuit says. At the end of 2011, Ortiz agreed to return the jewelry to Hamida in exchange for the promise of his necklace and money back, but Hamida has still not paid, according to the suit. It says Ortiz has learned from other players that Hamida “has a history of conducting himself in this manner.”
Ortiz’s lawyer Jonathan M. Davidoff made this statement regarding his client’s ongoing case:
“David doesn’t buy jewelry, or buy anything, from just anybody. And he trusted Mr. Hamida. “This was a last resort for David. David didn’t want to sue. But also, David doesn’t want to be taken advantage of. And professional athletes are targets, unfortunately.”
It sounds like this is a simple case of someone trying to get over on a pro athlete and the athlete having his “ducks in a row” in order to protect himself in the event something wasn’t right. Because Ortiz went the proper channels, he will most likely be able to recoup his money back.
[h/t Boston Globe, LBS]