The widow of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki filed a countersuit Thursday against the restaurant chain for defamation and making false statements.
The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware by Aoki’s widow Keiko Ono Aoki and Benihana of Tokyo, the family-owned trust that she controls, is a reaction to litigation filed last month by the company.
The company’s suit filed last month in Miami-Dade Circuit Court accused Keiko Aoki, Benihana of Tokyo and others of disparaging the company in an attempt to dilute its value, discourage a sale and raise questions about the ownership of the Benihana trademarks.