Homaro Cantu Lawsuit Dismissed After 'Amicable Settlement'

The lawsuit filed in March against the late Homaro Cantu by a former business partner has been dismissed. The plaintiff's attorney filed for dismissal during a Friday morning court appearance before Cook County Circuit Court Judge Peter A. Flynn, citing an "amicable settlement" between the parties.

Leon Teichner, the attorney for Alex Espalin (he was Cantu's former business partner at Moto and iNG), wouldn't disclose any details of the resolution. Teichner also didn't know if the agreement had any impact on Cantu's coffee shop Berrista, as the restaurant is currently "closed for the summer."

"I have no idea what's going with their businesses," Teichner said after the brief court appearance at Daley Center.

The lawsuit contained a laundry list of allegations, including financial improprieties and Cantu's failure to properly communicate with his business partner. Teichner wouldn't provide any information on his client, including where Espalin currently resided. Teichner was the only one in court representing any of the parties involved in the lawsuit and only shrugged his shoulders when asked about Espalin.

Meanwhile, a campaign to raise money for Cantu's family continues. Cantu, 38, died by suicide in April, and the mourning culinary community has embarked on a fundraising effort for his surviving wife and two young daughters. That's not restricted to Chicago. Local chefs in St. Louis on Monday are hosting a benefit dinner for the Cantu Children's Trust.