"Owned by pitmaster Tim McLaughlin, this Farmers Branch barbecue spot is at the center of a legal battle after McLaughlin filed a countersuit against his former business partners at Lockhart Smokehouse alleging breach of contract and fraud. McLaughlin, who was fired as pitmaster at Lockhart at the end of 2021 and is no longer involved in its day-to-day operations, says he hopes to complete discovery related to his late father’s estate so he can divest and close this chapter; he denies an allegation that he called Jill Bergus a name, says his firing was mishandled, and complains about the cost and strain of the ongoing litigation despite attempts to negotiate a sale." - Courtney E. Smith