David and Goliath have agreed to co-exist in Colorado.
The months-long legal tussle between Saul Sierra, owner of Mi Cocina Grille and Mi Cocina Express in Littleton, and Dallas-based MCrowd Restaurant Group, owner-operator of 15 eateries under the Mi Cocina brand, has been settled.
Under the settlement, Mi Cocina of Littleton may keep the name Mi Cocina within an area bounded by Evans Avenue on the north, Titan Road on the south and South Simms Street on the west. The east boundary will be Interstate 25, with Mi Cocina of Littleton having the rights to the west side of I-25, and Mi Cocina of Texas having all development rights east of I-25.
The dispute started in April when Mi Cocina of Texas — anticipating eventually coming to Colorado — filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Sierra’s restaurant.
Sierra argued that he had registered the name with Colorado’s secretary of state in 1995 — five years before Mi Cocina Ltd. in Texas was issued a U.S. trademark for the name, according to the lawsuit.
After months of mediation and thousands of dollars spent on attorney fees (Sierra is prohibited by the settlement to say how much), the Mi Cocinas are simpatico.
“Everybody told me to change my name, it would be easier,” Sierra said. “But I’ve been using this name for 15 years. Luckily, this turned out great.”
MCrowd Restaurant Group could not be reached for comment Thursday.
To thank his loyal followers, Sierra is throwing a customer- appreciation night from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at both restaurants.
BBB bash.
When the Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau set up shop at 1632 Welton St. in 1951, the consumer watchdog organization had 10 employees and was supported by 500 local businesses.
As the BBB marks its 60th anniversary, the current location at 1020 Cherokee St. houses 43 full-time employees and is supported by more than 7,000 local businesses and charities.
To celebrate its history, the BBB is throwing a 1950s cocktail party from 6 to 8:30 tonight at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, 650 15th St.
Revelers are encouraged to don 1950s cocktail attire for the evening of memorabilia, music, food and fashion. Tickets: .
Frame up.
Another local business celebrating an anniversary — its 20th — is Frame de Art, the custom framer used by by local sports celebrities and charitable organizations, with a party from 5 to 9 p.m. March 8 at the store, 3065 S. Broadway in Englewood. RSVP: framedeart@aol.com.
Price is right.
In a Feb. 14 article in The New Yorker, writer Malcolm Gladwell tweaks traditional law school rankings criteria that leave out “price” when determining the top 10 law schools in the country.
When Gladwell gave price equal weight to academic reputation, LSAT scores at the 75th percentile, student-faculty ratio and faculty law-review publishing, he found that the University of Colorado made it on the list at No. 8.
When price is factored out of the equation, CU is left off the list.
EAVESDROPPING
A man:
“Seeing a Whole Foods employee scarf down Taco Bell for lunch is sort of like watching a heart surgeon smoke after a surgery.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
