Cat Cora Awarded $565K in Lawsuit Against Fatbird in Meatpacking District | Eater NY

"A short-lived Meatpacking District restaurant serving Southern food, Fatbird opened in June 2017 and closed in December 2017 after never really finding its footing; Eater senior critic Robert Sietsema called the drinks "frankly stupid" and said the restaurant was in "disarray." Former Iron Chef Cat Cora sued her Fatbird partner Charissa Davidovici in October 2017 for $400,000 in consulting fees, alleging she wasn't paid for the use of her name, likeness, and recipes, and the lawsuit argued that Cora unfairly bore blame for the restaurant's underperformance, which harmed her brand, goodwill, and reputation. Page Six reports Cora has now been awarded $565,000 plus interest and legal costs after Davidovici failed to appear in court, and attorney Terrence Oved said Cora "is pleased with the decision." For Cora—who more often runs projects in airports and casinos—Fatbird was a rare standalone restaurant venture." - Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya