Millionaire's wife wins £600 battle over white suit 'turned grey' at dry cleaners

 
Compensation: Katie Graff in her white outfit
Kiran Randhawa31 October 2013
WEST END FINAL

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The wife of a millionaire diamond dealer spent 16 months trying to get compensation over a £600 suit ruined by her dry cleaners.

Katie Graff was incensed after her white dress and jacket, which she bought to wear at Royal Ascot last year, was left looking like a “dishcloth” after she had it cleaned.

Following a long-running battle which ended up in court this week, the 71-year-old won the row after Look New Dry Cleaners in West Hampstead was forced to pay £600 for the outfit plus costs.

Mrs Graff, who is married to Raymond Graff, 66, a director of the Graff Diamonds dynasty founded by his brother Laurence, told the hearing at Central London County Court: “It was a pure white, beautiful suit with satin on the lapels and sash. I took it into the cleaner and returned week later to collect it.

“When I returned to pick up the suit, it was wrapped in opaque plastic. It was only when I got home that I was horrified to find it was a dark grey – not my beautiful white suit.”

She told the court she had gone to see the firm’s manager, Ian Cohen to complain.

“Mr Cohen informed me there were no cleaning instructions on there, I said surely this is a little bit late to tell me and I can’t quite believe that.

“I was so concerned and incensed that they had not said to me ‘we’re really sorry, there’s been an accident on the suit.

“I was upset I was treated like I was such an idiot, I was not going to notice.”

Mrs Graff, who lives in a gated community which backs on to Hampstead Heath, was eventually offered £400 for damages which she rejected demanding compensation for the full amount.

Mr Cohen, told the court the correct cleaning processes and chemicals were used, but District Judge Jackson said: “[Mr Cohen] has to accept that he can’t really tell whether someone on site did something wrong causing the damage to the suit.”

The company was found liable and Mrs Graff was awarded £600 compensation and £140 costs.

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