July 18--A lawsuit filed against Homaro Cantu, the world-famous Chicago chef who committed suicide in April, was dismissed Friday after a settlement was reached, according to the plaintiff's attorney.
Cantu, 38, was well-known for his fine-dining restaurant Moto in the West Loop. He was found hanged April 14 in a Northwest Side building where he had planned to open a brewery. His death shocked friends, family and those involved in the culinary scene in Chicago and around the world.
Alex Espalin, a former business partner of Cantu's at Moto and another now-defunct restaurant, iNG, filed suit against Cantu on March 19. In the lawsuit, filed in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Espalin alleged that Moto failed to pay him profits owed him for his investment in Moto and iNG. Cantu also used Moto's business bank account for personal use, including trips, meals and personal business like the development of patented products, according to the lawsuit.
Leon Teichner, Espalin's attorney, confirmed that Cook County Circuit Court Judge Peter Flynn dismissed the lawsuit Friday morning because the two sides had reached a settlement agreement.
Teichner wouldn't disclose the terms of the settlement and declined to comment further.
Cantu was known for his passion and creativity in the kitchen, as well as his affable and enthusiastic demeanor. He was survived by his wife, Katie McGowan, and their two daughters.
McGowan could not be immediately reached for comment Friday.
In an April interview with the Tribune, McGowan called Espalin's lawsuit "frivolous" but said it could have added to her husband's mental distress.
"How much can one person take?" McGowan said. "He worked too much. We thought he was invincible."
gtrotter@tribpub.com
