A legal battle involving a family member of a high-end Claremont jeweler has spilled into the WA Supreme Court, over allegations the boutique owner’s daughter-in-law stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the company.
Legal documents published by the WA Supreme Court set out civil cases against Rebecca Luetke-Brinkhaus, partner of Karl Brinkhaus and daughter-in-law of Brinkhaus Jewelers founder Doris Brinkhaus.
In documents filed last week by legal expert Martin Bennett, Brinkhaus Jewellers’ company, Vantan Pty Ltd, alleged Luetke-Brinkhaus stole more than $700,000 from the company while working there as an accountant between 2019 and 2024.
The document alleges Luetke-Brinkhaus was “making withdrawals from the plaintiff’s accounts during this period without the plaintiff’s knowledge, consent or authorization, totaling $726,000”.
The company is seeking liquidated damages totaling $726,000, compensatory damages, interest and costs.
In posts since removed from the company’s website, Luetke-Brinkhaus was described as one of the three jewels in the family-owned company, which was founded by his mother-in-law, Doris Brinkhaus, in 1983.
Brinkhaus runs the business with his son, Karl Brinkhaus.
On the website, 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 is from Canada.
“Doris works side-by-side with her son Karl and daughter-in-law Rebecca, creating custom jewelry such as engagement rings, wedding bands and statement pieces,” the description, which has since been removed, said.
“A lot has changed in Perth over the years but one thing that has remained the same is Doris’ passion and love for jewelery and her family and friends.
Rebecca Luetke-Brinkhaus was described as a Canadian-born certified jeweler.
“Formerly working in gem labs in Vancouver and New York, Bec knows diamonds inside and out,” her online description states.
“With a passion for making people happy, you’ll see her smiling face 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.
