Benihana has been hit with a lawsuit by a firm representing the estate of its late founder, Rocky Aoki. It alleges that the Miami-based restaurant chain violated its licensing agreement by trying to register the Japanese restaurant’s trademark in foreign countries, including Iran.
New York-based Benihana of Tokyo (BOT) filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Delaware on Dec. 3 against Benihana of Miami (NASDAQ: BNHN) and its Noodle Time subsidiary. It seeks damages in excess of $75,000 and to prevent Benihana from registering its trademark in those countries.