Celebrity Chef Sues NYC Restaurant, Citing Breach of Contract

Cat Cora. Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Celebrity chef Cat Cora has sued the operators of Fatbird Restaurant in New York City, on grounds that it did not comply with an agreements to pay for the right to use her name, likeness, and recipes.

On October 23, Cora’s attorneys filed a suit in a state court in Manhattan, citing the restaurant’s failure to abide by the terms of a February 1 services and consultation agreement, in which Cora gave Fatbird the right to use her name, likeness, recipes, and other services. In return, Fatbird promised to pay Cora $400,000 in quarterly payments of $25,000 and give her a 10 percent equity interest in Fatbird.

“Fatbird, however, has defaulted on every installment payment owed to Cora and has now repudiated its agreement to make future payments to Cora,” the lawsuit reads. “Accordingly, Cora brings this action against Fatbird for its breach and anticipatory breach of contract and now unauthorized use of Cora’s name and likeness.”

Cora also said that the restaurant has been operated in a “substandard manner,” causing it to receive “numerous” negative reviews from diners and food critics. In addition, the restaurant allegedly offered menu items she did not approve and which were inconsistent with its southern food concept. 

“Cora has received the brunt of the blame for the restaurant’s lackluster performance, which has caused, and continues to cause, irreparable injury to Cora’s brand, good will, and reputation as a world class chef and restaurateur,” the complaint states.

Cora said she revoked Fatbird’s right to use her name and likeness on October 20.

“Cat expended a significant amount of time, effort, energy, and expense on this project,” her lawyer, Terrence Oved, said in a statement emailed to Reuters. “This suit seeks to recover for her what she was promised.”

The lawsuit states that Cora is seeking a judgment against Fatbird for “an amount to be determined at trial, including actual and consequential damages, together with interest accrued and attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses” as well as a judgment that Fatbird “be preliminarily and permanently enjoined and restrained from further use of Cora’s name and likeness.”