Cousin Appeals to Supreme Court in 50 Million Shekel Diamond Dispute

Shabtai Alon, a cousin of billionaire Michael Mirilashvili, has appealed to the Supreme Court against a ruling that dismissed his multi-million-shekel lawsuit regarding a major diamond deal. The Tel Aviv District Court had previously rejected Alon's claim for 50 million shekels and ordered him to pay Mirilashvili 1 million shekels in legal fees and costs.

The legal dispute stems from Alon's claim of a verbal agreement entitling him to 10 percent of the profits from a 2009 diamond venture and 5 percent of the diamond costs as a brokerage fee. Alon argued he facilitated the deal, managed the sorting and polishing of diamonds at a facility in Russia, and made dozens of trips abroad. According to his legal team, represented by Adv. Guy Wertheim, Sophie Tabchi, and Timna Erez of S. Horowitz & Co., the District Court relied on legally flawed assumptions and ignored key questions regarding the promised compensation.

In the District Court, Judge Ilan Dafdi ruled that Alon failed to substantiate his claims, noting that the lawsuit could have been dismissed on the grounds of the statute of limitations. The court accepted Mirilashvili's position that Alon's involvement did not include profit-sharing and that his work was compensated differently or performed as a goodwill gesture. Alon's appeal also contests the steep 1 million shekel legal costs, citing a massive disparity in financial power between the parties.

Mirilashvili is represented by Adv. Tomer Weissman, Arik Bernheizen, and Ilan Sternberg of Gornitzky Geller & Co. A spokesperson for Mirilashvili stated that they are confident the Supreme Court will reject the appeal, maintaining that the District Court's ruling is thoroughly grounded in evidence and law.