In an attempt to extort jobs out of the Top Chef show, four Teamsters union members threatened violence and shouted slurs at production crew and cast members while the show filmed in Boston in 2014.
Although defense lawyers for the men, John Fidler, Daniel Redmond, Robert Cafarelli and Michael Ross, claimed they acted within their rights for union activity, US Attorney Laura Kaplan told jurors in federal court that their behavior qualified as extortion. “This was all for wages for services not needed, not wanted and that others were already hired to perform,” she said in her opening statement.
Kaplan also told jurors one of the men stuck his arm into a van carrying Top Chef host, Padma Lakshmi, and said, “I’ll smash your pretty little face.”
The four men have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and attempted extortion. “That is not extortion,” said Kevin Barron, Ross’s lawyer. “That is labor organization activity.”
Read more about the ongoing court case here.
