The owner and operator of a popular Mexican restaurant in La Mirada is suing a man who allegedly defamed him on Yelp by falsely claiming that the restaurant serves ‘terrible’ food, that the management is ‘crazy’ and that the company is not affiliated with is at the original Los Angeles location.
Former Pico Rivera Mayor Ron Beilke filed suit in Norwalk Superior Court against Jairo Castillo on Tuesday for defamation, trade reduction and interference with future economic benefits and contractual relationships. Beilke is seeking at least $ 1 million in damages, plus unspecified punitive damages.
Castillo is a former employee of the La Mirada location who resigned in September, the suit says. He was not immediately available for comment.
The La Mirada El Tepeyac restaurant opened on Imperial Highway in 2019. Like the original Evergreen Avenue location that has been operating in Boyle Heights since 1955, the La Mirada El Tepeyac menu features great burritos, including the Hollenbeck and the 5-pound “Manuel’s Special.”
The eatery has a permanent challenge for customers to eat a ‘Manuel’s Special’ in one visit.
“Over the years, many have tried, but few have succeeded,” the café’s website said.
According to the lawsuit, Castillo began a ‘calculated plan to destroy the La Mirada location’ in September with messages such as’ This place is worthless, don’t even go there ‘,’ The food is disgusting and cold ‘and’ Don’t waste your time or money, ” said the suit.
Castillo also posted, “This place is awful. Food is awful. Management is crazy,” the suit states.
Castillo went on to say, “This place is a shame to claim it is part of the original and to use their logo when not affiliated,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit alleges that Castillo knew the reports were untrue and he acted with “reckless disdain” regarding their content.