$4.5M Verdict Against Acadia Owner in Defamation Lawsuit

Cody Nason v. Ryan McCaskey

Case Background

Cody Nason filed a defamation lawsuit against his employee, Chef Ryan McCaskey alleging harassment, loss of reputation, and tortious interference. The case was filed in the Illinois Circuit Court, Cook County. [Case number: 2021L008477]

Cause

Cody Nason, a former service captain at the now-closed Acadia restaurant in Chicago’s South Loop, filed a lawsuit against Ryan McCaskey, the chef and owner of the Michelin-starred Acadia.

Nason, who worked at Acadia for only six months in 2019, accused McCaskey and the restaurant’s former general manager of stalking him both online and offline. He claimed they made prank calls, subscribed him to various email lists, and created a defamatory website using his name. The website reportedly included false and damaging claims about Nason. These included accusations that he was a pedophile, a registered sex offender, and had a history of being both a perpetrator and a victim of child abuse.

Damages

Nason sought damages to compensate for the harm caused by McCaskey's actions, including the severe damage to his personal and professional reputation. He also sought punitive damages to address the impact of McCaskey’s actions.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

Plaintiff(s): Cody Nason
- Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Daliah Saper | Brandon Beymer | Chris Theodosis

Defendant(s): Ryan McCaskey
- Counsel for Defendant(s): Roger Malavia

Claims

Nason accused McCaskey of defamation, harassment, and tortious interference. The complaint followed Nason's request for a protective order against McCaskey in September 2020. It claimed McCaskey had launched a widespread online harassment campaign in response to Nason’s alleged involvement with an Instagram account. This account revealed stories of racism and abuse in Chicago’s restaurant industry, including harmful allegations about McCaskey and Acadia, which surfaced while the restaurant was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defense

McCaskey responded by filing defamation claims against Nason. He argued that Nason, a disgruntled former employee, spread false accusations to local media. McCaskey claimed that Nason’s goal was to harm his reputation and extort him through the pending lawsuit.

Jury Verdict

After a five-day trial, the jury deliberated for about two hours before reaching a verdict on September 20, 2024. The jury awarded Nason $250,000 for tortious interference with the contract, $1.25 million for defamation per se, and $1 million for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Additionally, the jury granted Nason $2 million in punitive damages. In total, the award amounted to $4.5 million in this defamation lawsuit.

Court Documents:

Available for purchase upon request

Former Staff Wins $4.5M Verdict in Defamation Lawsuit Against Michelin-Star Chef