He Reserves the Right to Say It’s Bad Food
A New York City judge has thrown out Kenny Rogers Roasters’ suit against a lawyer who posted a “Bad Food” sign in his office window above the restaurant’s entrance, a legal newspaper reported.
Supreme Court Justice Charles Ramos ruled that the large hand-written sign is a constitutionally protected expression of opinion, the New York Law Journal said. He found the restaurant’s argument that property rights should outweigh free speech rights to be invalid.
Ramos said the balance might be tipped more favorably in Roasters’ favor if lawyer Aaron Lichtman were to stand outside the restaurant, approach customers and scream at them that they would suffer “abdominal distention” after eating there.
The restaurant, which serves roasted chicken, is part of a chain endorsed by singer Kenny Rogers.
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