Libel Suit Objects to Cafe Described as a ‘Cheap Dive’

The owner of a Garden Grove restaurant, angered over a prominent attorney’s published comments, filed a libel lawsuit Wednesday against Dana Reed, the Orange County Register and the Garden Grove Journal.

Reed was representing former Orange County Supervisor Don R. Roth during a conflict-of-interest investigation when he made comments last month about La Fayette Cafe, according to the lawsuit, which seeks more than $1 million in damages.

“This is not an expensive restaurant,” Reed was quoted as saying, according to the lawsuit. “It’s a cheap dive. I’ve eaten there and I would be horrified if I thought it was a $50 meal. It’s in Garden Grove, for heaven’s sake.”

The story ran in the Register, and a subsequent apology by Reed was published in the Journal, which repeated Reed’s original comments made to the Register.

Reed said Wednesday that he never intended to defame the restaurant, but was trying to point out that the bill for Roth’s luncheon was less than $30. The unidentified individual who bought Roth’s lunch stayed at the restaurant eating and drinking long after the supervisor departed, making it mistakenly appear that Roth’s lunch was much more expensive, Reed said Wednesday.

“The La Fayette restaurant is not a cheap dive and my comments were inappropriate and needed an apology,” Reed said. “I ate an entire plateful of crow over this thing.”

Cafe owner Edmond Sarfati could not be reached Wednesday.

An attorney for the Orange County Register defended the use of Reed’s quote.

“This is an opinion concerning the restaurant; it’s the opinion of Dana Reed,” attorney Duff Helsing said. “We feel it’s fair comment in the context of a politician and public issue involving Supervisor Roth.”

Paul Arcaroli, publisher of the Garden Grove Journal, said he was surprised by the suit because he believes his newspaper’s article about Reed’s apology was a vindication of the city.