Lustre is located in part of the former Adolf Jewelers storefront in Ridge Shopping Center. (BizSense file photo)
A West End jewelry business and one of its owners have been freed from a nearly three-year legal battle.
Lustre, along with co-owner Robin Salzberg, last month settled the long-fought lawsuit filed against them by the Salzberg family’s former nanny who also did work for Lustre.
The plaintiff, Sara Hatch, sought $5 million in damages for alleged workplace sexual harassment and related emotional fallout after discovering a hidden camera in the bathroom while working at the family’s home in western Henrico.
The case was first filed in Henrico Circuit Court in September 2021, when Hatch was initially named in court records only as Jane Doe. A judge later ruled her identity should be revealed, while the defendants denied the allegations and called for dismissal.
A trial had been set for the case last December but was called off after settlement talks progressed.
Terms of the settlement, recorded March 25, were not disclosed. The resolution resulted in Lustre and Salzberg’s dismissal from the case with prejudice, meaning they can’t be sued again by Hatch for the same allegations.
But the case isn’t over yet for the remaining defendant, Robin’s ex-husband Daniel Salzberg.
Daniel, who is not an owner or employee of Lustre, has yet to settle the case and bears the brunt of Hatch’s allegations. He is also facing additional legal backlash from the alleged camera episode.
Daniel is also being sued by the couple’s former housekeeper, who filed suit a month prior to Hatch’s in August 2021, claiming she found the camera in question.
The housekeeper, Ana Liz Farina, is suing only Daniel and is seeking $300,000 in damages on claims of violations of state privacy codes and infliction of severe emotional distress. That case remains ongoing.
According to the lawsuits, both Hatch and Farina claim that on the morning of Dec. 7, 2020, Farina discovered a camera installed beneath a floor vent cover in the Salzbergs’ downstairs bathroom.
Farina, in her court filing, described the camera as “positioned within the air vent in a manner that would allow it to capture video footage of a person using the toilet and in a manner that concealed its presence.”
Both women claim they frequented the restroom while working in the home.
Hatch’s suit claims Daniel then rushed home and immediately removed the camera before claiming an unknown individual was responsible for the device.
Hatch filed a police report with Henrico County on Dec. 9, 2020. The lawsuit states that report was then transferred to the FBI. No formal criminal charges have been filed in relation to the case, according to local and federal court records.
Hatch alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress, violations of state computer crimes laws and wrongful termination against Daniel. The now-dismissed claims against Robin included negligence, and worker misclassification and sexual harassment against Lustre.
Robin was represented in the case by attorney Mark Nanavati of law firm Sinnott, Nuckols & Logan. Nanavati said he and his client have no comment other than to say they are “pleased that this matter was resolved.”
Lustre was represented by Eve Campbell of O’Hagan Meyer. Daniel is represented by Charles Adams of Zwerdling, Oppleman, Adams & Gayle. Hatch is represented by Henry Willett of the law firm Christian & Barton. None of those three attorneys returned a call seeking comment this week.
Robin is the daughter of Ronnie Adolf, who operated Adolf Jewelers locally for over 55 years. In 2018, after Ronnie Adolf’s retirement, Robin and business partner Daniel Wright opened Lustre by Adolf. It operates in part of the former Adolf Jewelers storefront at 1539 N. Parham Road in Ridge Shopping Center.
While fighting to distance herself and her business from the Hatch case, Robin divorced Daniel last year.
Daniel has denied Hatch and Farina’s allegations and called for both cases to be dismissed. A jury trial for the Farina case is set for March 2025, according to Henrico court records. It’s unclear from court records whether Daniel is negotiating a settlement in the Hatch matter.