NYC Diamond District Jeweler Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Alleged Harassment Campaign Against Ex-Girlfriend

Maksud Agadjani, 38, built a legitimate business empire in Manhattan's Diamond District. TraxNYC counts Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, MrBeast, Busta Rhymes, and Mark Wahlberg among its clients, and Agadjani's appearance in Adam Sandler's 2019 film Uncut Gems expanded his profile well beyond jewelry circles. His shop carries millions of social-media followers.

None of that background is what he is known for today.

A federal lawsuit filed by Melisa Kulla, a 27-year-old Albanian-American who worked as an employee at TraxNYC and previously dated Agadjani, alleges the jeweler launched what the court filing describes as "an avalanche of vulgar and threatening text messages" after she rejected his marriage proposal. The suit, according to the New York Post, alleges discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.

What the Lawsuit Claims

Kulla's account, as laid out in the court documents, begins in September 2024. According to the suit, Agadjani attempted to rekindle their relationship, cornering her for a kiss in his office. When she pulled away, his behavior toward her deteriorated.

The situation escalated when comedian Pete Davidson allegedly requested Kulla's phone number to source a watch. Per the suit, Agadjani accused her of flirting and "lashed out" aggressively.

Weeks after that, Agadjani proposed marriage. Kulla declined.

What followed, according to the lawsuit, was a stream of text messages, some running 300 words, filled with explicit insults. The suit quotes him calling her a "nasty stupid b---h," a "stupid monkey brained b---h," and, repeatedly, an "Albanian Monkey," specifically targeting her ethnic heritage. One message allegedly read: "Remember Melisa, I never put a d--k in my mouth to get ahead in life. That's why I earned. Can you say the same thing?"

The lawsuit claims Agadjani "intends to use every one of [his] resources to ensure that [she] cannot work, cannot succeed, and cannot escape him." Kulla states in the filing that she now experiences deep depression and suicidal ideation as a result of the alleged conduct.

The Strongest Defense Worth Considering

Agadjani has not responded publicly to the allegations, and his attorney has not issued a statement. A lawsuit is a one-sided legal document. Kulla's version of events is made under oath, but it remains untested in court. Agadjani is entitled to dispute every allegation, and courts exist precisely to adjudicate that dispute. The messages quoted in the filing are attributed to him but have not been independently authenticated in a public proceeding. None of the claims in this suit have been proven. No criminal charges have been filed.

Workplace relationships, breakups, and subsequent acrimony are common, and the legal framing of a personal dispute as discrimination and harassment will be for a judge or jury to evaluate, not a newspaper.

What Is Established

What is not in dispute: Agadjani has a documented public history that includes being robbed at gunpoint in 2021 and a brawl with a rival jeweler earlier this year. Neither of those incidents constitutes evidence of what Kulla alleges, but they are part of his established public record.

The New York Post sent a request for comment to Agadjani. He did not respond. Kulla's attorney also declined to comment.

The federal nature of the suit means this will be litigated in U.S. District Court. The discrimination claims — particularly those tied to her Albanian heritage — may invoke federal employment protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits national-origin discrimination in the workplace. Whether the romantic history between the two parties complicates those claims is a question courts have dealt with before, and the outcome is genuinely uncertain.

The case is active. No trial date has been reported.