Four Teamsters in Boston acquitted of 'Top Chef' extortion plot
Source: Reuters
#ENTERTAINMENT NEWS AUGUST 15, 2017 / 11:05 AM / AN HOUR AGO
Four Teamsters in Boston acquitted of 'Top Chef' extortion plot
Nate Raymond
2 MIN READ
BOSTON (Reuters) - Four Teamsters union members in Boston were acquitted on Tuesday of charges they tried to extort jobs from a production company filming "Top Chef" in 2014 through thuggish tactics that included threatening host Padma Lakshmi.
A federal jury in Boston found Daniel Redmond, John Fidler, Robert Cafarelli and Michael Ross not guilty of conspiracy and attempted extortion charges over what prosecutors said was an effort to secure wages for unwanted services from the non-union company.
Prosecutors claimed the Teamsters were trying to secure wages for unnecessary services as drivers during the filming of "Top Chef," which had hired non-union workers for those positions while filming throughout the Boston area.
Defense lawyers argued the Teamsters Local 25 members were engaged in legitimate picketing as the union tried to negotiate to secure jobs.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-massachusetts-teamsters-idUSKCN1AV1Q4