Drew Brees awarded $6.1 million in damages for lawsuit against jeweler

Drew Brees was awarded $6.1 million in damages by a San Diego Superior Court on Friday for his lawsuit against a jeweler.

Brees and his wife filed a suit against La Jolla jeweler Vahid Moradi last year in which they claimed they were sold investment diamonds by Moradi and his company, CJ Charles Jewelers, from 2012-2016. Brees alleged in his suit that Moradi misrepresented the value of the diamonds, with a separate appraiser valuing them at $6.7 million less than what the Breeses paid.

In one example, a diamond Brees paid $8.1 million for was appraised at $3.7 million. The total amount the Breeses paid Moradi was $15 million.

The jeweler’s attorney claimed that the appraiser was actually a competitor who tried to sell jewelry to the Breeses. The defense claimed the diamonds were purchased as a gift for Brees’ wife, not investment purposes. The defense also claimed any differences in prices were due to standard markups by businesses to cover expenses, according to CBS 8 in San Diego.

When Brees sued last year, he was seeking at least $9 million in damages.

The 40-year-old quarterback was drafted by the Chargers in 2001 and played there through the 2005 season before signing with the Saints. He has played for New Orleans ever since, winning a Super Bowl and making 12 Pro Bowls.