The owner and operator of a popular Mexican restaurant in La Mirada is suing a man who allegedly slandered him on Yelp by falsely declaring that the eatery serves ‘awful’ food, that the management is ‘nuts’ and that the business not connected to the original Los Angeles location.
Former Pico Rivera Mayor Ron Beilke on Tuesday brought the case against Jairo Castillo in the Norwalk High Court through defamation, contempt for trade and interference with prospective economic advantage and contractual relations. Beilke is seeking at least $ 1 million in damages, plus unspecified penalties.
Castillo is a former employee of the La Mirada location who resigned in September, the case reads. He could not be immediately reached for comment.
The La Mirada El Tepeyac restaurant opened in 2019 on the Imperial Highway. Like the original Evergreen Avenue location that has been operating in Boyle Heights since 1955, the La Mirada El Tepeyac menu features large burritos, including the Hollenbeck and the £ 5 “Manuel’s Special”. “
The eatery offers a permanent challenge to customers to eat a “Manuel’s Special” during a single visit.
“Over the years, many have tried, but few have succeeded,” according to the cafe’s website.
According to the case, Castillo started a “calculated scheme in September to destroy the La Mirada location with posts such as” This place is struggling, do not even go there “,” The food is disgusting and cold “and” Do not waste your time or money, ‘according to the suit.
Castillo also said, “This place is awful. Food is awful. The management is nuts,” says the suit.
Castillo further said: “This place is a disgrace to claim that it is part of the original and use their logo if they are not linked,” according to the complaint.
The case alleges that Castillo knew that the postings were untrue and that he acted with ‘reckless disregard’.