Jay-Z Wins Legal Battle Against Rockafella Restaurant

Taking a page out of his own rap battle book, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter responded from an Ether-like loss in a court case last year with a recent victory.

Last year, it was reported that Jay lost a legal battle with Newcastle, England restaurant, “Rockafella” over rights to use the name when a judge ruled that Hov's label and the restaurant were both inspired by the famous Rockefeller family.

Jay-Z Loses Restaurant Court Battle

Rockafella owner, Terry Miller won $250,000 on the cooking show "Hell's Kitchen" and used the money to open the restaurant in 2006. Jay filed the lawsuit back then and lost the case last year, but his legal team Forrester Ketley & Co. appealed the case and now a judge has ruled in Carter's favor.

Miller is still allowed to use the name for his catering business. His restaurant however, closed in 2009.

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Co-founders of the original 40/40 Club, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Desiree Gonzalez and Juan Pérez have had their fair share of success franchising the sportsbar that first opened in Manhattan in 2003.

The restaurant business is not what it once was however and due to financial troubles and label disputes, not all of the chains were able to survive.

With the times changing, Jay-Z and his cohorts have decided to team up with Delaware North Companies, a hospitality and food service company, to open up 40/40 bars in airports around the country where customers commute daily.

Delaware North Companies operates dozens of national and regional brand restaurants and shops at more than 20 major U.S. airports.

Alex Askew, co-founder of the Black Culinarian Alliance, explains,

"The amount of traffic present in an airport justifies the business case for operating a food establishment there. The cost may be higher but customers are always guaranteed," he continues.

"I don't think that is the exact same clientele you will find on the airport side. But the frequent business traveler will likely be the customer with a color blind (that it is owned by a hip hop artist) traffic flow."

The 40/40 Club's website hinted that Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Tokyo and Macau are some of the initial cities being targeted this year as cites for the lounge. Jay-Z stopped by Atlanta for a visit this week and hung out with Mayor Kasim Reid and Young Jeezy.

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Jay-Z filed a federal lawsuit yesterday against Highland Capital Management asserting that the firm tried to “bleed funds” from him and two of his business partners.

According to court documents, Jay borrowed $52 million from Highland Capital Management to go toward the “J Hotel”, a posh hotel he hoped to open in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood.

He says however that the idea between him and two other business partners was put on hold following last year's shaky economy.

When Jigga and his partners asked to restructure the loan last year, they claim that Highland Capital deliberately made it a long, drawn out process that ultimately cost him $20,000 a day.

He is seeking $3.7 million in damages.

A spokesperson for Highland Capital has since spoken out against Jay saying his lawsuit is “meritless” and the firm has vowed to “vigorously defend itself.”

He said it before....

He's not a businessman....he's a business, man.