"The legal battle over late celebrity chef Michael Chiarello's culinary empire is escalating, with the estate now accusing a former executive of helping orchestrate a hostile takeover of his business holdings. In a court filing Friday, the estate alleged that David O'Malley former chief operating officer of Chiarello's management company, Gruppo Chiarello Inc. aided Chiarello's longtime business partners by sharing confidential records, withholding documents from the estate and destroying files."
"He's also accused of forging Chiarello's signature on a backdated corporate document to help the group seize ownership of Coqueta, Chiarello's San Francisco restaurant. The accusations expand on a July complaint that named three other defendants Richard Rich Frank, John Hansen and Peter Crowley, a former advisor and co-manager of Chiarello's restaurants alleging they conspired to take control of his restaurants, management company and intellectual property after his death in October 2023."
The estate alleges former COO David O'Malley aided Chiarello's longtime business partners by sharing confidential records, withholding documents and destroying files. The estate alleges O'Malley forged Chiarello's signature on a backdated corporate document to help seize ownership of Coqueta, Chiarello's San Francisco restaurant. The accusations expand on a July complaint that named Richard Rich Frank, John Hansen and Peter Crowley and alleged they conspired to take control of restaurants, the management company and intellectual property after Chiarello's October 2023 death. Arbitration initiated in May 2024 awarded Frank, Hansen and Crowley control of Chiarello's trademarks and Bottega Napa Valley, which the group later acquired in full. The estate seeks monetary damages and declarations affirming ownership of management entities including Gruppo.
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