By Chloe Chef Claims She Was Pushed Out
Chloe Coscarelli, the vegan chef who lent her name to fast-casual empire By Chloe but was then ousted from the brand, has filed the latest lawsuit in her legal battle with By Chloe's owner ESquared Hospitality.
This time, Coscarelli, whom an arbitrator ruled could be terminated from the restaurant for her "gross negligence" in business operations, claims that CEO Jimmy Haber pushed her out because she rejected his romantic "advances." Eater, which reviewed the 129-page lawsuit, reports that Coscarelli has alleged that Haber "became furious" when she rebuffed him and that he eventually sent "threatening messages to Chloe and her family." She claims in the complaint that he wanted to meet with her alone to "share private feelings he said he had toward Chloe and about their relationship."
"Spurned again, and reeling from rejection, Haber used ESquared to seize control," according to the complaint.
Coscarelli sues ESquared and By Chloe on 14 counts, including, according to Eater, "violation of right of publicity, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and false suggestion of association."
Since she and the business split last year, the company has expanded to 10 locations and recently announced a $31 million investment.
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