AN extortion trial that pits "Top Chef" against a group of Teamsters continued Monday morning in Boston, with host Padma Lakshmi among those testifying.
Four members of the Local 25 union are on trial for allegedly using aggressive tactics against the reality show's television crew in an attempt to shut down filming unless Teamsters were hired to drive production vehicles.
The events are said to have transpired in June 2014, and the federal court proceedings, which began on July 31 with the selection of 12 jurors, are expected to last two weeks.
Here's what we know about the situation:
The events allegedly took place while taping outside Steele & Rye, a restaurant in Milton, Massachusetts.
Prosecutors claim the Teamsters - Robert Cafarelli, John Fidler, Daniel Redmond and Michael Ross - verbally harassed and "chest-bumped" members of the Bravo series's nonunion crew out of anger that the producers had not hired union drivers, according to ABC News.
(Production assistants drove instead.) Prosecutors also allege that a Teamster attempted to block a vehicle carrying Lakshmi from entering Steele & Rye's driveway, telling the celebrity host something along the lines of, "We're going to bash your pretty little face in."
The jurors have to decide whether the defendants' actions qualify as extortion.
The Teamsters had threatened to picket if "Top Chef" producers didn't hire union drivers, according to the Boston Globe, and defense lawyers have said the union members have a right to picket if they choose.
"This is the life of America. People have a right to organize and demand things from employers," said Kevin Barron, Ross' lawyer. "There was no extortion, no crime, no conspiracy. . . . Just five middle-aged truck drivers doing a picket."
Prospective jurors were questioned about their "feelings on organized labor, lewd, sexist and racist language, and law enforcement," the Globe reported. The Teamsters, if convicted, could face sentences up to 20 years. (Mark Harrington, a fifth Teamster, pleaded guilty to attempted extortion in September and was consequently sentenced to two years probation and six months of confinement.)
Prosecutors have questioned the conduct of local police, too.
Prosecutors stated on Friday that local police officers failed to intervene when the Teamsters allegedly harassed the "Top Chef" team, Deadline reported. Multiple witnesses have claimed the officers did nothing - no arrests were made following the incident - and the prosecutors showed photos of slashed tires on vehicles belonging to the "Top Chef" crew members.
"I got bumped from behind," production assistant Ian Buchanan testified on Friday, according to Deadline. "I didn't see who hit me. A group of men cornered me. The police saw the skirmish. He told me to leave them alone. I was confused because I didn't start the altercation."
Lakshmi testified Monday morning that she was "terrified" when she arrived at Steele & Rye.
Lakshmi said the Teamsters had formed a line to block the vehicle from driving farther, the Globe reported, and that her driver "looked terrified" as well. One of the men approached the vehicle, verbally threatened Lakshmi and yelled something "derogatory" at the driver, she said. "I just didn't want to get out of the car, it was an uncomfortable situation to me,'' she said, according to the Globe.
The court proceedings do not seem to have affected the show's future.
Though a premiere date has yet to be announced, Bravo confirmed in March that the 15th season of "Top Chef" would take place in Colorado. Lakshmi will return as the host, according to Entertainment Weekly, along with judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Graham Elliot.
The Washington Post
Tue Aug 08 2017
![Everything you need to know about the 'Top Chef' extortion trial Everything you need to know about the 'Top Chef' extortion trial](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-08/41502185515_PadmaLakshmi.jpg)
Padma Lakshmi (C) enters federal court where she is expected to testify in the trial of four members of a local Teamsters union who tried to extort jobs from a non-union production company filming reality TV show. - Reuters/Nate Raymond
AWANI 7:45 [15/08/2024] – Nidza Afham selamat dikebumikan | Pembunuhan kejam | Sangkal dakwaan pengguna X | Srettha dilucut jawatan PM
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Irfan Faruqi langsung dari Johor Bahru;
- Kematian Nidza Afham tiada unsur jenayah, punca masih tunggu siasatan makmal
- Pemain bola bawa kerambit masa gaduh rupa-rupanya senarai 'wanted' polis
- Produk Malaysia mendunia, kerajaan sasar tembusi pasaran antarabangsa
- Lebih 24 jam terkandas di Jeddah, jemaah umrah tuntut penjelasan Malaysia Airlines
- Kematian Nidza Afham tiada unsur jenayah, punca masih tunggu siasatan makmal
- Pemain bola bawa kerambit masa gaduh rupa-rupanya senarai 'wanted' polis
- Produk Malaysia mendunia, kerajaan sasar tembusi pasaran antarabangsa
- Lebih 24 jam terkandas di Jeddah, jemaah umrah tuntut penjelasan Malaysia Airlines
AWANI Ringkas: Jenazah ibu MB Kedah selamat dikebumikan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Ringkas: Jenazah Nidza Afham selamat dikebumikan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Pemecatan Srettha sebagai PM Thailand mengejutkan - Pemerhati politik Pemecatan Srettha sebagai PM Thailand mengejutkan - Pemerhati politik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723628910_TBSretthaThavisin.jpg)
Pemecatan Srettha sebagai PM Thailand mengejutkan - Pemerhati politik
Pertempuran antara ideologi parti rakyat dan parti-parti gabungan semasa akan menjadi semakin sengit.
![MCMC bakal lancar Kempen Kesedaran Keselamatan Dalam Talian - Teo MCMC bakal lancar Kempen Kesedaran Keselamatan Dalam Talian - Teo](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719727105_TeoNieChing.jpg)
MCMC bakal lancar Kempen Kesedaran Keselamatan Dalam Talian - Teo
Kementerian Komunikasi melalui Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) bakal melancarkan Kempen Kesedaran Keselamatan Dalam Talian yang komprehensif dalam masa terdekat.
![Nenggiri miliki potensi jadi destinasi ekopelancongan Nenggiri miliki potensi jadi destinasi ekopelancongan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723703023_DunNenggiriekope.jpg)
Nenggiri miliki potensi jadi destinasi ekopelancongan
Pemandangan suasana pergunungan dalam kawasan Nenggiri yang dihiasi landskap menarik sering mengundang kunjungan pelawat untuk menikmati keindahannya, kata Malim Gunung Mohamad Saifful Rizal Jusoh.
![Pemenang emas Olimpik Indonesia Rizki Juniansyah ditawar kerja kerajaan Pemenang emas Olimpik Indonesia Rizki Juniansyah ditawar kerja kerajaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723726414_TBRizkiJuniansyah.jpg)
Pemenang emas Olimpik Indonesia Rizki Juniansyah ditawar kerja kerajaan
Rizki Juniansyah, yang memenangi pingat emas dalam acara angkat berat 73kg lelaki di Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 telah menerima tawaran pekerjaan daripada Kementerian Belia dan Sukan Indonesia.
![Rusia kosongkan lebih banyak kawasan di Kursk berikutan pencerobohan Ukraine Rusia kosongkan lebih banyak kawasan di Kursk berikutan pencerobohan Ukraine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723726901_TBMissile.jpg)
Rusia kosongkan lebih banyak kawasan di Kursk berikutan pencerobohan Ukraine
Daerah itu mempunyai lebih 17,500 penduduk berdaftar sebelum Rusia melancarkan pencerobohan besar-besaran ke atas Ukraine pada Februari 2022.
![Ringgit ditutup rendah berbanding dolar AS Ringgit ditutup rendah berbanding dolar AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713876066_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit ditutup rendah berbanding dolar AS
Data CPI AS untuk Julai turun kepada 2.9 peratus pada asas tahunan berbanding tiga peratus pada Jun.
![Lesen Ali Baba: Pembantu penguat kuasa DBKL didenda RM13,000 Lesen Ali Baba: Pembantu penguat kuasa DBKL didenda RM13,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71722937565_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Lesen Ali Baba: Pembantu penguat kuasa DBKL didenda RM13,000
Hakim Azura Alwi menjatuhkan hukuman itu terhadap Syahrul Riza Md Yusof, 42, dan memerintahkannya dipenjara 21 bulan, jika gagal membayar denda.
![COVID-19: Over 100 individuals in Penang undergo test COVID-19: Over 100 individuals in Penang undergo test](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-08/61596274626_lab.jpg)
COVID-19: Over 100 individuals in Penang undergo test
Most of them were tested negative for the disease while others are still waiting for the results, Penang Chief Minister said.
![Pusat dobi layan diri tidak dibenarkan beroperasi Pusat dobi layan diri tidak dibenarkan beroperasi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-03/41584500636_dobi.jpg)
Pusat dobi layan diri tidak dibenarkan beroperasi
Turut tidak dibenarkan beroperasi, pasar malam dan pasar tani sepanjang Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan bagi mengelakkan orang ramai berkumpul
![Do postponements cause delays in the Courts? Do postponements cause delays in the Courts?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/61550614637_IstanaKehakiman.jpg)
Do postponements cause delays in the Courts?
Cases may often be postponed or otherwise delayed for various reasons. The truth of the matter is that these delays may be necessary due to the Rule of law and due process.
![Guilty until proven innocent; a devastatingly prevalent myth Guilty until proven innocent; a devastatingly prevalent myth](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-07/71437905385_gavelshh.jpg)
Guilty until proven innocent; a devastatingly prevalent myth
While it is natural for us to be presumptuous, to place our version of the truth ahead of the law's is just purely juvenile. Lawyer Alan Razak writes.
![I feel guilty, I want to see Imam, kata lelaki yang tampar Imam I feel guilty, I want to see Imam, kata lelaki yang tampar Imam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-09/81443606748_SHABIRAHMADKHAN.jpg)
"I feel guilty, I want to see Imam," kata lelaki yang tampar Imam
Demikian kata-kata Shabir Ahmad Khan, 31, lelaki warganegara India yang menampar imam Masjid Negara semasa solat Jumaat di masjid itu dua minggu lalu.
![Mahkamah benarkan wanita batal saman bekas kekasih Bosnia Mahkamah benarkan wanita batal saman bekas kekasih Bosnia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-12/51388488766_295x200.jpg)
Mahkamah benarkan wanita batal saman bekas kekasih Bosnia
Hakim Timothy Finlayson Joel dalam keputusannya turut menolak tuntutan balas oleh Chung Shun Yee, 29, terhadap Ervin Ahbabovic, 41.