Angmor tourist lost suit against Shangri-La Hotel for missing giant bling

[Rogue Trader]

Millionaire loses missing diamond case against Shangri-La Hotel

AsiaOne
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011

An American millionaire who sued the Shangri-La Hotel after losing a diamond ring has lost her case in the High Court.

The American multi-millionaire businesswoman and philanthropist sued Shangri-La Hotel for the loss of her diamond ring during her stay there from Feb 4 to 7, 2009.

She sought compensation of US$220,000 (S$278,000) for the gold ring, which had a 6.41 carat diamond.

That is how much it would cost Ms Bass to get the ring reproduced, according to a valuation dated Feb 10, 2009, by Mr Joel Arthur Rosenthal, a famous, ultra-exclusive jeweller better known as JAR.

Mr Rosenthal sold her the ring 25 years ago.

She told the court that she wore the ring throughout her stay here, but took it off and placed it on the dressing table in the bedroom at about 6.30pm on Feb 6, 2009, after she opened the door of her suite to let two hotel employees - a massage therapist and her assistant - in.

She left them in the living room to go to the bathroom - located inside the bedroom of the suite - to change into a robe for a massage. The assistant left after setting up the massage table while the therapist left the suite at about 7.30pm after giving the massage.

About two hours later, a butler delivered Ms Bass' room service order while she was in the shower. She said she put on her robe to open the door, let him into the living room, where he placed the food trolley, and returned to the bathroom to resume her shower.

She discovered the ring was missing at 10pm, about half an hour after the butler's visit, when she had finished packing to check out.

Ms Bass blamed the loss on negligent hotel staff and alleged that one of the staff had taken it.

Justice Judith Prakash dismissed her claims as "weak and purely circumstantial", and also said she had embellished her version of the events.

Justice Prakash also found discrepancies and inconsistencies in her story, saying that there was no convincing evidence to say that Ms Bass had brought the ring to Singapore.

The hotel security team had also cooperated fully with the police during investigations, said Justice Prakash, countering claims that they were negligent.

She added that even if the ring was lost within Shangri-La premises, Ms Bass would only have been able to claim a maximum of $500 - a provision under the Innkeepers Act which limits liability for the loss.

Shangri-La general manager Michael Cottan told The Straits Times that the hotel was grateful the court had ruled in its favour, adding that the safety and security of guests has always been Shangri-La's top priority.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Ring's designer has 'cult-like following'

by Amanda Yong, The New Paper|29 October 2010

Like Madonna, Sting and the Artist Formerly Known As Prince, he's better known by just one name.

To those who know their baubles, JAR, or Joel Arthur Rosenthal, is much more than just a jewellery designer.

Mr Rosenthal, an American in his late 60s, is said to be secretive, reclusive and publicity-shy, according to Forbes and jewelry.com.

So low-key is he that he "purposefully maintains a very small and private enterprise with one shop, one designer and a small staff".

The company's "salon on Place Vendome in Paris bears no sign, has no jewels on display and may be visited only by appointment".

But his work has a "cult-like following" and his "client list remains exclusive and intensely loyal".

This was what Mr Francois Curiel, chairman of auction house Christie's Europe, said in a speech on Mr Rosenthal and his work.A copy of the speech, tendered in court yesterday, provided a glimpse into the creator of a missing diamond ring that is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit.

The ring's owner, American multi-millionaire Anne Hendricks Bass, 68, is suing the Shangri-La Hotel, where she stayed from Feb 4 to 7 last year.

The businesswoman and well-known New York-based socialite had bought the ring from Mr Rosenthal for 120,000 francs 24 years ago and always wore it, she claimed.

Ms Bass said she removed it only before receiving a massage from a hotel masseuse in her suite on the evening of Feb 6.

She discovered it missing from the dressing room table in the bedroom of the suite about 31/2 hours after she had left it there.Ms Bass, hotel staff members and the police searched for the ring, but were unable to find it.She is seeking compensation of US$220,000 (S$285,000) for the gold ring, which has "an upside- down, cushion-shaped 'Renaissance' diamond of 6.41 carats".

That is how much it would cost Ms Bass to get the ring reproduced, according to a valuation by Mr Rosenthal dated Feb 10 last year.

Amount disputed

That amount is being disputed by the defence. The hotel's expert witness, Mr Tay Thye Sun, a gemologist and gem expert, has estimated the value of the ring as between US$50,000 and US$60,000.

He is scheduled to testify later in the trial.

Yesterday, Ms Daphne Lingon, senior vice-president of Christie's, testified in court via video-conferencing from New York where she is based.

Ms Lingon, who has 17 years of experience in the jewellery business and has been senior vice-president of Christie's jewellery division for about eight years, was called by Ms Bass's lawyers to give evidence as an expert witness.

During her one hour on the stand, she spoke about Mr Rosenthal as one would of a revered artist.Calling him "the most highly sought after jewellery designer in the world", she said his pieces are "completely unique" and formed out of "his vision".Each item is one of a kind and "there are no duplicates", she said.

His creations are even more coveted and "command tremendous prices in auctions", far above their estimated value, because he produces only about 70 to 80 pieces a year, she said.

But the hotel's lawyer, Mr K Anparasan, said the prices that Mr Rosenthal's pieces are believed to be able to fetch at auctions are speculative, because it would depend on factors such as the economy and the level of interest.

Ms Bass replied: "With Mr Rosenthal's pieces, because he makes so few every year, it doesn't matter what the economy is, there's demand."This was one of the reasons she agreed with the estimate of US$220,000 as the worth of the ring and felt that Mr Tay's estimate was far too low.

Colour of diamond

She also disagreed with Mr Tay's opinion, stated in a report tendered to the court, that the diamond was near Z colour, or a light yellow.

She disagreed because she said the jeweller uses only stones that are colourless or near colourless - those in the higher quality D, E, F or G category.

Moreover, the two photos of the ring that were admitted as evidence date back to the '80s.

As the diamond was mounted in a heavy gold setting, it could appear more yellow than it actually was, she added.

Mr Anparasan asked if the 4Cs of colour, carat, clarity and cut were taken into account when giving an estimated value to a piece of jewellery.Ms Lingon said: "In most cases, yes, but with regards to Mr Rosenthal's pieces, no.

"She said: "When you look at a Picasso, you don't look at the cost of the frame, you don't look at the cost of the canvas. That's not how you break it down.

"Mr Anparasan pointed out that she had not seen the actual ring, but had based her conclusion of the ring's worth only on the information given by Mr Rosenthal in his affidavit and the photos of the ring that were tendered to the court.

Ms Lingon agreed, but said she also took into account the size of the stone and that the majority of Mr Rosenthal's pieces fetch prices far higher than their estimated value.

When asked by Ms Bass's lawyer, Mr Eugene Thuraisingam, if the diamond was the sort that could be easily bought from a wholesaler, Ms Lingon said it could not.

"To buy a diamond such as this, which is very unique, you would have to search for quite a long time... You would have to contact dealers who deal in old stones, collectors... It's not something you can get from a diamond dealer," she said.

The trial resumes next year at a date yet to be fixed, when Ms Bass is due to take the stand.


This article was first published in The New Paper.

 

[eErotica69]

.....She added that even if the ring was lost within Shangri-La premises, Ms Bass would only have been able to claim a maximum of $500 - a provision under the Innkeepers Act which limits liability for the loss.
.......

Where the f**k did she get her lawyers? The Yellow Pages? She should sue her lawyer instead. Simple Law and the lawyer does not even know?

 

[Rogue Trader]

Where the f**k did she get her lawyers? The Yellow Pages? She should sue her lawyer instead. Simple Law and the lawyer does not even know?

Just another ex-rich american who has to resort to scamming via law suits after losing their fortune during the GFC.

 

[kopiuncle]

now she loses more....i don't understand these rich people. always want to sue. use lawyers to sue. in the end,loss. come limkopi with me lah...next time, wear faked and costume jewellleries lah....they're also diamonds!!!

 

[Rogue Trader]

So ... this woman is a gold digger who amassed her fortune through divorcing a rich Texan ex husband

They stole it, She lost it
by Amanda Yong, The New Paper|28 October 2010

It has the ingredients of a mystery novel set in the luxurious confines of a top-end hotel in contemporary Singapore.

The protagonist is 68-year-old American multi- millionaire businesswoman, Ms Anne Hendricks Bass.

A butler, a masseuse and various members of the Shangri-La Hotel complete the cast.

But the star of the show is, indisputably, a Paris- made gold ring with "an upside down, cushion- shaped 'Renaissance' diamond of 6.41 carats".

Ms Bass claims the ring went missing from her hotel suite on Feb 6 last year.

Through Mr Eugene Thuraisingam of Stamford Law Corporation, she is suing the hotel for compensation of US$220,000 ($398,000), based on the valuation dated Feb 10 last year by the jeweller who sold her the ring 24 years ago.

So, who did she think was responsible for the missing ring?

Ms Bass cited the hotel staff who entered her suite that evening. So the hotel should be liable for her loss, she says.

But the hotel denies her claims and says Ms Bass could have lost the ring herself.

Hearing

Yesterday, the hearing opened with the testimony of Mr Justin Hill, who had lunch with Ms Bass on on that fateful day.

Mr Hill, a director at Kerry Hill Architects, said he saw Ms Bass wearing a ring that day. Mr K Anparasan of KhattarWong, representing the hotel, asked him to describe the ring, but he was unable to do so.

When Justice Judith Prakash asked Mr Hill what made him notice the ring, he replied: "Because during lunch, she was playing with her finger and I noticed the ring, but I cannot remember anything about the ring in detail."

Ms Bass stayed at the hotel from Feb 4 to 7. Her suite comprises a living room and a bedroom with an attached bathroom.

She claims she wore the ring throughout her stay but took it off and placed it on the dressing table in the bedroom at about 6.30pm on Feb 6 when she was preparing for a massage by a hotel masseuse.

At around the same time, masseuse Maria Ngaesah and assistant fitness manager Reno Rasi arrived at her suite. Ms Bass left them in the living room to go to the bathroom to change for the massage.

Mr Reno left after setting up the massage table.

Ms Ngaesah left the suite at about 7.30pm after giving the massage.

About a couple of hours later, hotel butler Jeremy Thong delivered Ms Bass's room service order.

Ms Bass discovered the ring was missing at 10pm. She searched the room, as did the hotel staff and the police.

The opening statement prepared by Ms Bass' lawyers reads: "...it was either Ms Maria Ngaesah, Mr Reno Rasi, or both of them working together, who stole the ring."

Arguing that the hotel should be held liable for Ms Bass' loss, her lawyers cited the Innkeepers Act, which limits an innkeeper's liability to $500 unless the property had been lost or stolen through the innkeeper's or his employee's wilful act, default or neglect.

The same Act also requires that this information be printed legibly in English and exhibited in a conspicuous part of the hall or entrance of the hotel at the time of the incident.

Ms Bass claims that only a 17.8cm by 26.8cm copy of the Act, in words of font size 12, was placed at the lobby reception, which is 34.1m long.

"It cannot by any means be said to have been placed in a conspicuous part of the hall or entrance of the hotel!" says the opening statement.

Innkeepers Act

Denying her claims, the hotel says that none of her witnesses, including Mr Hill, are able to state that they saw the ring on her during the period of Feb 4 to 6.

It also says that a copy of the provisions of the Innkeepers Act was exhibited in the hotel's hall and also "prominently on the back of the main door" of her guestroom.

Its employees, too, could not have stolen the ring as they had been only in the living room of her suite and not the bedroom, where she had left the ring.

Instead, Ms Bass's own negligence led to the loss of the ring, the hotel argues.

Also in question is the worth of the bauble itself.

The hotel will call its own expert witness, Mr Tay Thye Sun, to state that its value should be between US$50,000 and US$60,000, far less than the amount quoted by Ms Bass's jeweller.

Mr Thuraisingam had applied for Ms Bass to give her testimony via video-conferencing from New York as she could not be in Singapore due to business commitments, but the request was turned down by the judge in a closed-door hearing.

She will appear in person on the witness stand in January next year instead.

The hearing continues today with the plaintiff's jewellery expert taking the stand.

She got $260 million in 1989 divorce

She's a Manhattan socialite who's a fixture in the society pages of New York City newspapers.

She's a passionate patron of the arts, especially ballet.

And she's one very wealthy woman.

Ms Anne Hendricks Bass (right), 68, was described by The New York Times in March as one of the richest women in the US after her divorce from Texas billionaire Sid Bass.

Their split in 1989, after nearly 21/2 decades of marriage. The couple have two daughters.

Ms Bass, who has kept her ex-husband's surname, reportedly received US$200 million (S$260 million) in the divorce settlement.

This included more than one million Disney shares, a Fifth Avenue apartment and an art collection, according to Forbes magazine.

Worth

She was worth US$555 million in October 1999, Forbes reported.

Born in Indianapolis, in the mid-western state of Indiana, US, Ms Bass met her ex-husband at a party in Fort Worth, Texas, according to Texas Monthly.

They married in 1965.

Mr Bass left her for socialite Mercedes Kellogg, who was then married to retired mining executive and former ambassador Francis Kellogg.

Mr Bass had met her at a ball in Britain in 1986, People magazine reported.

Ms Bass's current companion, Mr Julian Lethbridge, is an abstract artist in his early 60s.

She has been described as "intensely private" by her family members, The New York Times reported.

This article was first published in The New Paper.

 

[kopiuncle]

this one causes a bomb.....yes a big boomz!!!

 

[Cestbon]

View attachment 2673

this one causes a bomb.....yes a big boomz!!!

It zoom 10 time bigger than actual size so will not be that expensive. Diamond will be smaller about 0.1c each.

 

[kopiuncle]

why wear diamonds...give me the money and i can lim until heaven cums...