Owners of luxe steakhouse opening in Trump-owned building used COVID funds for personal expenses: lawsuit

The owners of a luxury Chicago steakhouse who are opening an outpost astatine a Midtown building that’s partially owned by Donald Trump allegedly utilized national costs meant to salary employees’ salaries during COVID for individual expenses – including $2 cardinal connected Learjet, according to a bombshell lawsuit.

Maple Hospitality Group, nan owners down Maple & Ash, was accused of “fraudulently” tapping  $7.6 cardinal successful Small Business Paycheck Protection Program funds, according to nan civilian suit brought by investors successful Chicago’s Cook County Circuit Court.

“The MA restaurants ne'er received a dollar of these funds,” according to nan suit, which was obtained by The Post.

According to nan analyzable case, nan alleged misappropriation was portion of a wider shape of fiscal wrongdoing by Maple & Ash co-owner Jerald Lasky, his relative James Lasky and by companies controlled by them.

Although nan suit refers only to “private pitchy expenses,” nan Chicago Sun-Times and power position WBEZ traced nan costs for nan pricey Learjet successful 2021 to “a institution whose president is James Lasky.”

The owners person denied nan charges successful nan complaint, which was first revenge 3 years agone but received small media attraction extracurricular nan Windy City.

As reported successful The Post successful February, Maple Hospitality Group signed a lease for 12,000 quadrate feet astatine 1290 Sixth Ave., which is majority-owned by Vornado Realty Trust but wherever nan Trump Organization has a 30% passive stake. Trump’s position reels successful much than $60 cardinal successful yearly rent revenue.

Maple & Ash, which opened its flagship steakhouse successful Chicago successful 2015, is nan nation’s fourth-highest-grossing edifice pinch much than $35 cardinal gross a year.

But location seems to beryllium arsenic overmuch sizzle successful nan Chicago tribunal arsenic connected its fancy plates.

Investors who helped raise $3 cardinal each to unfastened Maple & Ash successful Chicago and successful Scottsdale, Ariz., besides declare nan institution wrongfully utilized profits to money nan owners’ different edifice brands successful different cities, according to nan complaint.

The Laskys allegedly retaliated against nan investors for filing nan suit by dissolving their interests successful nan company, according to an amended filing.

James Lasky has been sanctioned by nan judge successful nan lawsuit for failing to comply pinch tribunal orders to move complete slope records and different information. He was ordered to screen plaintiffs’ $191,000 ineligible fees resulting from withholding information, tribunal records show.

The lawyer for nan investors, Michael Forde of Forde & O’Meara, said he hoped nan lawsuit would yet spell to proceedings early adjacent year.

James Lasky’s lawyer, James Stamos of Stamos & Trucco, didn’t instantly respond to an email and telephone call.

The hospitality group launched different steakhouse successful Miami successful March. Haut Living mag said nan edifice “brings [the brand’s]  signature blend of refined dining, uninhibited energy, and indulgent luxury to nan Magic City.”

The Big Apple opening is slated for later this year.