Facts

This case involved a dispute over a May 12, 2005, diamond sale. While plaintiffs and defendant did not dispute that a diamond transaction occurred on May 12, 2005, and that basic terms of the sale were memorialized on a business card, essentially every other term of that agreement was in dispute.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff Indiamond Inc. alleged that the parties entered into a contract for the sale of 187.57 carats of diamonds, at the agreed upon price of $99,000; and that after Rahimian and his company received the diamonds, they tendered only $9,900. As a result, an additional $89,100 was still owed to plaintiffs.

Plaintiff Indiamond Inc. and its president, plaintiff Rajendra Mehta, alleged that the foregoing was memorialized on a business card that was retained by Mehta. Mehta also alleged that after this transaction took place, defendant Rahimian slandered him by calling him a crook.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant Kourosh Rahimian alleged that on May 12, 2005, Elegant Creations Inc., through its sales manager, plaintiff Rajendra Mehta, sold Jewelry Collection Inc. one 2.05 Carat SI 2 Diamond at an agreed-upon price of $9,900; and that in exchange for this diamond, Elegant Creations Inc. was paid $8,900 in cash, leaving a remaining balance of $1,000.

Defendant Rahimian alleged that the basic terms of the sale were memorialized in handwriting on the backside of a business card that was retained by Mehta. However, Rahimian alleged that some time after the transaction was completed, the numbers recorded on the business card were altered. Specifically, a zero was added to the $9,900.00 figure thereby converting it into a number that has two commas and which reads $9,9,000.00.

Defendant Rahimian further alleged that at no point in time did he publicize false statements concerning plaintiff Mehta.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiffs offered to settle their claims for $65,000. The defendant tendered a C.C.P. section 998 offer in the amount of $1,500 to plaintiffs.

Result

Defense verdict on all claims.

Other Information

The defendant will file a memorandum of costs. FILING DATE: Feb. 15, 2006.

Deliberation

one hour

Length

four days