Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

$656,000 Demanded From Watch Dealer

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A songwriter and singer claims in court that a onetime friend owes him $656,000 for Rolex watches he sold with counterfeit parts.

John Mayer, whom Forbes magazine describes as a "celebrity songwriter," sued Robert Maron and Robert Maron Inc. in Superior Court. Forbes describes Maron as a well-known watch dealer; in his lawsuit Mayer calls him "a self-described preeminent expert on wristwatches."

The lawsuit does not accuse Maron of selling Mayer wholly counterfeit Rolexes, merely watches with non-Rolex replacement parts.

Mayer claims he met Maron in 2007 and their mutual interest in watches helped them became friends.

Maron runs his eponymous company out of Los Angeles. Maron "was, plaintiff believed, plaintiff's trusted friend," Mayer says in the lawsuit. Apparently quoting from Maron's website, Mayer claims Maron advertises himself as "a self-described ... person of impeccably integrity."

Mayer says he spent more than $5 million on Maron's Rolexes.

In 2010, Mayer claims, he went to Rolex to have one of his watches serviced, and Rolex claimed that his watch was not authentic in all respects.

When Mayer said as much to Maron, Maron told him "it was a mistake" and "an isolated incident," according to the lawsuit.

Mayer claims that Maron took the watch back and credited the price of it toward another Rolex.

Then in 2011, Rolex told Mayer that another watch was not authentic, as it had a bezel that was not intended for that model and the dial was not a "Rolex" dial.

Rolex has since confirmed that other watches Mayer bought from Maron contain counterfeit parts, Mayer says in the lawsuit.

He claims that Maron owes him at least $656,000 for the questionable watches.

He also seeks punitive damages, for fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract.

Mayer is represented by Peter J. Anderson, of Santa Monica.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...