Suit ‘Links’ jeweler to wide bias

SEVEN employees of a luxury retail jewelry store claim the familyowned business turned a blind eye to its top supervisor’s racism, sexism and homophobia, according to a newly filed lawsuit.

Employees Rebecca Matthews, Tristan Bailey, Azalia Brown, Jeaneliz Mariani, Richard Kissi, Ebony Young and Kareem Jackson allege they were subjected to retaliation after they individually complained about Links of London’s North American regional president, Evangelia Petrakis.

The group claims Petrakis is “repulsed by the presence of African-American and Hispanic people in her stores as customers, managers and employees,” and does all she can to push them out, according to the lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court by Eric Baum on behalf of employees.

Owners Dimitris, George and Ketty Koutsolioutsos, as well as supervisors Pericles Stamatiades and Helaine Catalano, allegedly did nothing to correct Petrakis’ practices.

The suit claims Petrakis sent African-American employees to work in the basement, tried to drive out women who become pregnant, and passed over a Hispanic woman for higher positions because of her sexuality.

Petrakis also “openly criticized an African-American colleague, Richard Kissi, for sounding ‘too black’ when he spoke to customers.” the suit also alleges.

The employees were either fired or suspended after filing their complaints.

Links of London stores are located across North America, Europe and Asia.

Store attorney Jeffrey Englander said the claims are “a shakedown and are frivolous in every sense.” He said Petrakis is a “wellrespected female chief executive,” and accused opposing counsel of trying to “extort a settlement.”