Timothy Dean's Financial Mess: Lawsuits, Bankruptcy

Current Top Chef contestant Timothy Dean doesn't just have bad luck on TV, it extends to his restaurants as well: the Washington, DC chef recently filed suit against National Harbor, an "entertainment complex" in Maryland. Dean was to be the first African-American restaurant owner in the complex, but the deal fell through when National Harbor did not produce a promised $600,000 and evicted him.

Dean has also recently filed for bankruptcy claiming "the recession and winter weather."

This is not the first lawsuit Dean has filed against properties that housed his restaurants; in 2002, Dean sued the St. Regis Hotel in DC claiming the building managers had driven business away from his restaurant there due to his race. It was settled out of court.

· "Top Chef" contestant Timothy Dean sues National Harbor [WP]
· All Timothy Dean coverage on Eater National [-E-]

Timothy Dean [Photo: Urbanite]