A legal fight involving a family-owned high-end Claremont jeweller has spilled into WA’s Supreme Court, with accusations the daughter-in-law of the boutique store’s owner stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the company.
Legal documents published by the Supreme Court of WA lay bare the civil proceedings against Rebecca Luetke-Brinkhaus, the partner of Karl Brinkhaus and daughter-in-law of Brinkhaus Jewellers founder Doris Brinkhaus.
In documents filed last week by legal heavyweight Martin Bennett, the company behind Brinkhaus Jewellers, Vantan Pty Ltd, alleged Luetke-Brinkhaus stole more than $700,000 from the company while she worked there as a bookkeeper between 2019 and 2024.
The writ alleged Luetke-Brinkhaus was “making withdrawals from the accounts of the plaintiff during this period which were without the knowledge, consent or authorisation of the plaintiff, totalling $726,000”.
The company is seeking liquidated damages in the sum of $726,000, alternative damages, interest and costs.
In posts since removed from the company’s website, Luetke-Brinkhaus was described as one of three jewellers at the family-owned company, which was started by her mother-in-law, Doris Brinkhaus, in 1983.
Brinkhaus runs the business with her son, Karl Brinkhaus.
On the site, Doris Brinkhaus, who lives in Swanbourne, described how she moved to Australia “after falling in love with Perth following a holiday in the city a few years earlier”. The family are originally from Canada.
“Doris works side by side with her son Karl and daughter-in-law Rebecca, creating bespoke jewellery such as engagement rings, wedding bands and statement pieces,” since-removed descriptions of the business stated.
“So much has changed in Perth over the years but the one thing that has remained the same is Doris’s passion and love for jewellery and her family and friends.
Rebecca Luetke-Brinkhaus was described as a Canadian-born certified gemologist.
“Previously working for a gem laboratory in Vancouver and New York, Bec knows diamonds inside and out,” an online description of her states.
“With a passion for making people happy, you will see her smiling face either in the showroom or behind the computer keeping our accounts in order.”
The legal documents were addressed to Luetke-Brinkhaus at the Duncraig home she co-owns with Karl Brinkhaus.
