The owners of Catfish Kitchen have filed suit against a man they allowed to use their name and rent a restaurant location, alleging the defendant closed up shop and broke his lease commitment.
Glenda and Evertt Jones filed suit against Walker Van Choate and his businesses, Eat Cajun and Fisherboys, on Dec. 16 in Jefferson County District Court.
Court records show the Joneses entered into a lease contract for property at 3620 College St. in Beaumont last December. They agreed to allow Choate to run the business and use their restaurant's name, Catfish Kitchen, as long as he agreed to pay the lease for three years.
"In October 2010 defendants shut down their business and left the property," the suit states. "Glenda Jones even helped defendants get their business started. The defendants did not complete even a year of their three year commitment."
The plaintiffs accuse the defendants of breach of contract, fraud and conversion.
They are suing for punitive, exemplary and actual damages, plus attorney's fees.
Beaumont attorney Jason Cansler of Brent Coon & Associates is representing them.
Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, is presiding over the case.
Case number B188-973