Celebrity chef Gary Mehigan outside restaurant Fenix, in Richmond. Picture: Bruce Magilton
Source: Herald Sun

THE knives are out for celebrity chef Gary Mehigan.

The MasterChef judge is being sued over allegations he and others defaulted on settlement payments to a business partner in Fenix Restaurant and Events.

Lawyers for Luigi Baccini, who is listed with Mr Mehigan as a director of the Richmond business, this week lodged a writ in the County Court seeking damages, interest and costs.

Blue Skies Properties, a 40 per cent shareholder in the business, is also suing.

Mr Baccini and Blue Skies Properties have demanded the $356,200 they claim they are owed, according to court documents.

Mr Baccini and Blue Skies Properties launched a Federal Court action in 2006 against Fenix, directors Mr Mehigan, Steven Bogdanovic and Raymond Capaldi, Maribyrnong Boathouse and Mr Bogdanovic’s company, Ftjani.

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At the time, Mr Baccini wanted Fenix Restaurant and Events wound up or for his shares in the business to be bought out.

According to documents filed this week in the County Court, the parties agreed instead to a settlement that would see Mr Baccini and Blue Skies Properties receive $134,400 in back pay and $1200 a week until such time as the business was sold, as well as $100,000 to cover legal costs.

But, in a statement of claim, lawyers for Mr Baccini claim the defendants had paid only $75,000.

Mr Baccini’s solicitors wrote to the defendants in November demanding they pay.

Mr Capaldi is no longer a director of Fenix and Maribyrnong Boathouse.

Fenix and its directors would not comment.