BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have filed a complaint against a popular Western New York restaurant for breaching their contract.
In a claim filed on Oct. 15, 2024, the Bills claimed Rachel's Mediterranean Management Company, Inc. breached their contact by not paying the full sponsorship fees and for continuing to use the Buffalo Bills' copyrighted logo in their promotions after failing to pay the sponsorship fees.
The Bills say the agreement was for three football seasons, beginning on Aug. 27, 2020 through May 31, 2023, and if the Bills qualified for the playoffs, Rachel's would be required to pay additional fees. The complaint states that Rachel's had to pay $12,000 in post-season sponsorship fees in Year 2 of their agreement, but failed to pay $10,000 of those fees. In Year 3, Rachel's incurred $17,000 in post-season sponsorships that were also allegedly not paid.
Under their agreement, the Bills say that a late fee of 1.5% per month is due on the principal of the balance. The Bills claim Rachel's has not paid any of their invoices since December of 2022.
The Buffalo Bills sent Rachel's owner Joseph Khoury a letter on Aug. 26, 2024 that it was placing Rachel's on notice of default, and that Rachel's owed them $228,675 ($180,000 in unpaid Sponsorship Fees, and late fees in the amount of $48,675)
The Bills also are demanding that Rachel's immediately cease and desist from all use of their trademarks.
This isn't the first complaint against Rachel's for non-payment. Rachel's Mediterranean Grill was named in a complaint filed on Aug. 5, 2024 by Lamparelli Construction Co. Inc. for nonpayment of their construction services. This complaint alleges that Rachel's owes Lamparelli Construction $283,392 for construction work completed at five of their restaurants.
