Lindy Reilly of the downtown burger joint Lindy's on Fourth has parted ways with the owners of what used to be called Lindy's at Redline Sports Grill and is suing to retain intellectual-property rights to the food he created there
Reilly teamed up with Luke Cusack and several other parties to open Lindy's at Redline Sports Grill at 445 W. Wetmore Road in early 2011. He says things went well for the first few months, but that his business relationship with Cusack has been deteriorating ever since.
Reilly says he got a lawyer about two weeks ago in an attempt to enforce an intellectual-property contract that covered his image and the wildly creative burgers he creates, both of which were thrust into the national spotlight after Lindy's on Fourth was featured in an episode of popular television show Man V. Food.
He's also looking into getting an injunction to halt the owners of what is now known as Redline Sports Grill from releasing their new menu in the coming days because some items bear a striking resemblance to items Reilly creates.
"I've never dealt with anything like this. I'm beside myself," said Reilly, taking a break from a kitchen shift at Lindy's on Fourth, in which he is still a partner. "My food has been turning a profit there since last June, and he pretty much told me to go fuck myself, refused to pay me ... and stole $14,000 worth of equipment."
The "Lindy's" name has been removed from the exterior signage, but is still found in several places on the online menu and website.
Luke Cusack, who co-owns Redline Sports Grill and the adjoined RPM Nightclub, has not responded to several messages left for him at the restaurant over the last week. Cusack was also a partner in A Steak in the Neighborhood, which closed last year.