[U] Gerald Modell

Plaintiff Gerald Modell, Inc. ("Modell") is a licensed collateral broker (i.e., a pawnbroker) with three locations in New York City. Pro se defendant James Schraeder ("Schraeder"), a jewelry designer, became a client of Modell's in 1995 or 1996, when he owned a jewelry store called "Alexander Rose." Schraeder obtained loans from Modell's in exchange for providing jewelry as collateral both his own and later, that of his employer, Natcon Art & Jewels Ltd., d/b/a Demner ("Demner").