WASHINGTON — (CNN) President-elect Donald Trump and chef Geoffrey Zakarian are at an impasse in settlement talks regarding their lawsuit over Trump’s cancellation of Zakarian’s restaurant at the Trump Hotel and told a judge Tuesday they are ready to set a trial date.
Attorneys for Trump and Zakarian appeared in DC Superior Court Tuesday afternoon for a status hearing to update the judge on where things stand in the lawsuit.
The attorney for Trump explained that the parties have continued to engaged in settlement discussions, but currently are at an impasse and ready to set a trial date.
The judge set a pretrial conference date for May 17.
Trump is expected to sit for a seven-hour deposition in a related case with chef Jose Andres before he takes office, as soon as this week.
Should the Zakarian trial proceed, it will create a legal spectacle for the new President. Zakarian and Andres pulled out of agreements to open restaurants in Trump’s Washington hotel following Trump’s 2015 reference to some Mexican immigrants as “rapists.” Trump sued the chefs for breach of contract, seeking more than $10 million in damages apiece, and they counter-sued.
Zakarian and Andres have separate cases.
Developing story – more to come
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