The trademark infringement fight over Chuco's Tacos has gotten uglier than a paper bowl with three rolled tacos covered with sauce and cheese and left in your car for a couple of days.
Chuco's Tacos, most recently known as 10th Street Tacos, was an Austin establishment that provided a (sort of) taste of home for El Paso ex-pats. Taste of home because, of course, Chico's Tacos is an iconic El Paso eatery; sort of because Chuco's had a slightly different menu and a different taste and feel, according to people who ate there.
Nonetheless, the owners of Chico's Tacos, the Mora family, filed suit in December, 2007, alleging trademark infringement and other business no-nos. They asked for profits from Chuco's, punitive damages, and that Chuco's stop using any materials that are similar to Chico's trademark, such as the logo, packaging and "products." The most recent filing came Aug. 26, a little more than a month after 10th Street Tacos closed. That closure, according to a court filing, was July 16.
The filings indicate a real animosity -- in addition to suing Chucos Management Group LLC, Chico's Tacos Inc., owned by the Mora family, is suing Joel L. Ortega, one of Chucos' principals. Chico's alleges in an Aug. 4, 2008 amended complaint that Ortega, acquainted with the Mora family, told one of the family members that "he could open a Chico's Tacos and just change one letter in the name."
The fight also has spilled onto the Internet, and even touched on the UTEP-Texas game coming up Saturday. In an Austin-American Statesman blog, a member of the sports staff writes, "If the Longhorns go starving because they can’t find a good taco in this town, we’re blaming you, El Paso. We’re coming out there Saturday — angry and hungry."
In a different blog entry, El Pasoans offer their thoughts on who is right and wrong, and who has/had the better food.
Below is a summary of legal documents filed in the case, for you die-hard lawyers and food critics. The most recent document filed is an order sending a motion for disclosure of evidence -- the plaintiffs asked a series of 74 questions, and claimed not all were answered.
Related Documents:
maleducado
September 4, 2008
Dare I speak the Heresy!?
Chico's tacos are GROSS ! !,.... Puleezze!!
Thomas
September 5, 2008
I think their food stinks...look at how fat all the people eating there are. I ate there once (McRae I think) and it was filthy, you had to walk outside to go to the bathroom. I've been to better places in Juarez, and I didn't have an upset stomach for two days after. It truly amazes me they are still in business.
Chuco's (10th St. ?) is now out of business, so my suggestion would be to take the money you are wasting on lawyers and put some decent bathrooms in your place.
Chuco's lover
September 5, 2008
I ate at Chuco's at least once a week while it was open. The good was damn good - much better than Chico's, for whatever that's worth.
RIP Chuco's.
Chico's taco suck
September 5, 2008
Chico's Tacos USED to be okay a long time ago when they were made with real cheese.
Now?
Disgusting. They should stop spending money on lawyers and spend it on a better product (with real cheese).
Marty
September 5, 2008
If I were on a jury deciding this: I'd give Chicos $0, Zero dollars.
The name is different.
Hamburgers, tacos, & sauce are common food items.
The preparation is different or somewhat different everywhere you go.
Recipes are public property. Anyone can cook whatever the hell they want.
So, I give Chicos ZERO dollars
and they can pay all of the attorney fees from both sides and all court costs for wasting everyone's time especially with a business that is hundreds of miles away.
Chicos may have scared the Chuco folks out of business and I know this will backfire on Chicos.
Oh, it will.
Those that cause unnecessary trouble for others will accumulate horrible karma, disease and pestilence.
Sit back........... let some time pass............. and Watch what happens.
Enrique Medrano
September 6, 2008
As a Chico's Tacos addict for more than 40 years, I am glad that El Paso is the only place in the world that Chico's Tacos are served.
Chico's Tacos back in the 60's were tastier than those served now. Nevertheless, today's Chico's Tacos remain a culinary treasure to many hundreds of thousands of current and former El Pasoans.
My sister, who is a tenured professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center (medical school), tries to sit down for a serving of Chico's Tacos whenever she comes into town.
Chico's Tacos, in moderation, are not fattening.
Those who have problems with cleanliness at Chico's Tacos can patronize the hospital cafeterias in El Paso.
MUhnay
September 7, 2008
This is not so much about who had the better food, but rather the fact that they stole from a well established business in El Paso.. the logo, the name, and the signature dish.. and tried to profit from it. I don't eat at Chico's.. And I would not eat at Chuco's either. But the laws are in place to stop this sorta thing.. try to open a Hamburger place like McDonalds but change the name to McDowells like in the movie Coming to America.. and you woudl face the same result.. this is no different.
Neil
September 8, 2008
Well there goes my Chiquito's Taquito's idea.
dj chachi (del chuco)
September 10, 2008
I guess (DJ) Chachi's Taco's is out of the question.
Suggestion to the Mora family - Save your lawsuit money and open up a Chico's on the west side already! I don't care if it's out of a "Roach Coach" - I need my bi-weekly fix!
Sylvia
September 10, 2008
Chicos was where EPCC students used to eat because we couldn't afford anything on campus. Let alone, at UTEP's cafeteria. Has anyone thought of opening a Chicos near UTEP yet? Chucos (hence the name derived from El Chuco aka: El Paso) then attempted to produce Chico's tacos under an alias name as well? Our family now eats at the east side location, which is clean and always very busy. Our out of town family goes there too, when in town. Remember, Chicos serve the hot dogs on a hamburger bun with beans too. My hubby likes those a lot. Me, I fight my cravings for Chicos Tacos as much as possible, but eventually give in at least once every few months. It is after all an El Paso tradition. By the way, hi Willie, you bought us all Chicos one night after a UTEP Student Council Meeting in 1977 est., remember?
Me
September 10, 2008
Agreed... Ew..
pepper
September 10, 2008
As a current student in El Paso, originally from San Antonio, I'm glad we don't have a Chico's tacos in San Antonio because it wouldn't last a day. The cheese is gross and tastes like oil and the tacos taste like beef jerky rolled in a burnt frenchfry. Plus what's the deal with the sauce? It makes it more disgusting... In my opinion.
Sylvia
September 11, 2008
LOL...if you are originally not from El Paso, well the problem is simple: Chico's Tacos is a Acquired Taste....HA HA