WASHINGTON (AP) — How do you compete with a restaurant at President Donald Trump's hotel down the road from the White House? Two Washington restaurateurs argue you can't — and have sued him over it.
The plaintiffs are Khalid Pitts and Diane Gross, who own Cork Wine Bar and Cork Market & Tasting Room. They allege unfair competition under local law and have filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court against Trump personally and against the Trump Old Post Office LLC, which operates the hotel.
They aren't seeking monetary damages but are asking Trump to remedy the unfair competition — by resigning, divesting from the hotel or closing it while he's president. Pitts and Gross are represented by business and government watchdog attorneys who say they are working for free.
Alan Garten, lead attorney for the Trump Organization, dismissed the lawsuit as "a wild publicity stunt completely lacking in legal merit." Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, couldn't immediately be reached.
Pitts is politically active, having run in 2014 as an independent for a seat on the D.C. Council. Prior to that race, he'd been registered as a Democrat. He previously did work for the Service Employees International Union. Gross, a lawyer, worked from 2003 to 2005 for former Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat.
Pitts said the couple's political leanings are "irrelevant." He said his dining, catering and events business is down since Trump took office, but he declined to give details. Cork Wine Bar has about 70 seats.
Under constitutional immunity protections, Trump can't be sued over official acts in the Oval Office. But he can be named in lawsuits for personal actions or those involving his businesses.
Trump turned over management of his companies to his two adult sons and a senior company executive. He retains ownership of his global business empire, which includes the hotel.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
First - no one has to give up all of their businesses because they become president - that's just ridiculous.
Second - "unfair competition"? This is America, land of the free market.
Third - Business is down? That's because your Democrat cronies are no longer the majority in Washington, and so there are not as many to order from you. So sorry you chose to be politically active and run a business and the Republicans around might not like your food as much. Oh wait.....isn't that what you are suing Trump for?
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Ptttt, whatever. How about just get over it. Do something to attract more business. Maybe no one wants to hear you whining about him winning so they go elsewhere.
-- Edited by Southern_Belle on Thursday 9th of March 2017 04:11:38 PM
That sounds like competition. Aren't an A list restaurant anymore? Do something about it. Personally, I've eaten at Trump's restaurant. I have never heard of the plaintiff's restaurant. And divest? Why? It will still be Trump and will still bear his name and will still be elegant and will still provide excellent service and will still be favored over Cork.
I am sure Trump will tweet "well if you weren't such a crappy restaurant perhaps you wouldn't lose business. I have a great restaurant, a very very good restaurant, I know how to be in the restaurant business, I am very very good at it."
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I am sure Trump will tweet "well if you weren't such a crappy restaurant perhaps you wouldn't lose business. I have a great restaurant, a very very good restaurant, I know how to be in the restaurant business, I am very very good at it."
I am sure Trump will tweet "well if you weren't such a crappy restaurant perhaps you wouldn't lose business. I have a great restaurant, a very very good restaurant, I know how to be in the restaurant business, I am very very good at it."
I am sure Trump will tweet "well if you weren't such a crappy restaurant perhaps you wouldn't lose business. I have a great restaurant, a very very good restaurant, I know how to be in the restaurant business, I am very very good at it."
Donald? That sounds just like him! HAHAHAHAHA!
I'd love to hear you do him in person, LOL!
Ewww.....
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I am sure Trump will tweet "well if you weren't such a crappy restaurant perhaps you wouldn't lose business. I have a great restaurant, a very very good restaurant, I know how to be in the restaurant business, I am very very good at it."
Donald? That sounds just like him! HAHAHAHAHA!
I'd love to hear you do him in person, LOL!
Oh, that is all sorts of wrong!
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
If you are losing business, make changes to improve your model. Don't blame someone else that's being a success.
Next thing you know, a failing Burger King in a major city will sue Gordon Ramsay because he's got a 5 Star successful restaurant around the corner from them.
Could you imagine how for behind we would be, as a nation, had the fathers of the Industrial Revolution "played fair" in their competition?
Has the American people become so soft they don't know how to compete anymore.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
