All is not well in East Hampton today!
Celebrity chef and Food Network star, Ina Garten, has filed a lawsuit against a California company, OFI imports. The basis of the lawsuit is simple, OFI Imports is illegally using the 67 year-old’s name for profit. According to Newsday, the company being sued by Garten sells and distributes frozen meals that have a strikingly similar look of the originals.
Displaying the phrase “Contessa Chef Inspired” affront of their packaging, OFI has refused to stop. The term Contessa Chef Inspired is based off of Garten’s hit Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.
Garten believes the similar packaging has caused confusion amongst her customers in grocery stores and that she has been left with no choice but to seek legal action. “OFI has refused to stop, and that leaves no choice other than to pursue legal action that will protect the brand that I’ve built over the last 35 years,” Garten said.
In addition to requesting that the company no longer make their product, the NY Daily News also reported that Garten requests to be paid in damages done.
Credit: Walter McBride/INFphoto.com