Texas-based restaurant chain sues Ark eatery owner

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A Texas-based restaurant chain is suing an Arkansas restaurant owner for trademark infringement.
Texas-based chain Twin Peaks features scantily-clad female servers in a mountain snow lodge-style atmosphere. The Arkansas owner, Kevin Laughlin, incorporated his company called Grand Tetons LLC in July 2009 and plans to open a restaurant called Northern Exposure next month.
In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Dallas, Twin Peaks claims Laughlin approached the company in spring 2009 and spent time learning about the business. The company claims it helped him select a location for a Twin Peaks franchise in Fayetteville.
The lawsuit claims Laughlin pulled out of the negotiations after a few months, saying he'd develop his own business model.
The Northwest Arkansas Times reports the staff at Laughlin's restaurant said he was too busy to be interviewed Wednesday.