Ellis George LLP: "Flamin’ Hot Cheetos" Inventor Sues PepsiCo for Defamation, Fraud and Unfair Competition
22 Julio 2024 - 3:27PM
Business Wire
Former PepsiCo executive Richard Montañez, the
subject of last year’s Eva Longoria film “Flamin’ Hot,” accuses the
company of engaging in a “smear campaign” against him, racial
discrimination and violation of the Fair Employment and Housing
Act
Richard Montañez, a former senior executive at PepsiCo, Inc.,
perhaps best known as the man who invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and
whose inspirational, rags to riches life story was the subject of
last year’s hit film “Flamin’ Hot,” was the victim of fraud, racial
discrimination, defamation and violations of California’s unfair
competition law, according to a 62-page complaint (Case No.
CIVRS2400356) filed against PepsiCo.
The suit, filed July 18, 2024 in Superior Court of the State of
California in San Bernardino on Mr. Montañez’s behalf by law firm
Ellis George LLP in Los Angeles, seeks a jury trial, damages,
restitution and an order preventing PepsiCo and Frito-Lay from
claiming that Mr. Montañez is not the creator of Flamin’ Hot
Cheetos.
“I created Flamin’ Hot Cheetos not only as a product but as a
movement and as a loyal executive for PepsiCo,” said Mr. Montañez.
“PepsiCo believed in me as a leader because they knew people would
follow me, and they did because they knew my soul is my community.
We built this into a $2 billion industry, and I cannot let them
take away my legacy or destroy my reputation. I will not let them
silence me.”
Mr. Montañez became the ultimate American success story, going
from high school dropout and janitor at Frito-Lay (now owned by
PepsiCo) in Southern California, to celebrated marketing legend
after creating “Flamin’ Hot Cheetos” in 1992. His idea became a
multi-billion-dollar product line for PepsiCo, finally addressing
the Hispanic community with flavorful and spicy snack foods. Mr.
Montañez became PepsiCo’s Vice President, Multicultural Sales &
Marketing, an author, an inspirational speaker commanding up to
$50,000 per speech and his life story was chronicled in last year’s
critically acclaimed “Flamin’ Hot,” the directorial debut of
actress Eva Longoria.
Yet, after four decades of sharing Mr. Montañez’s extraordinary
story with the world, particularly with the Hispanic community,
PepsiCo allegedly began an inexplicable smear campaign to disavow
Mr. Montañez’s role in creating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The tsunami of
false and defamatory media coverage that followed has taken a
devastating toll on Mr. Montañez’s career as an inspirational
speaker, causing the cancellation of speaking engagements, book
deals and a documentary – but most devastating for Mr. Montañez,
the attack on his reputation has damaged his relationship with his
Hispanic community.
“This complaint speaks for itself, and we are looking forward to
presenting the merits of this case to a jury,” said Eric George,
partner at Ellis George LLP.
For more information, please contact Eric George of Ellis George
LLP, 310-274-7100.
About Ellis George LLP
Ellis George LLP is recognized as one of the top litigation and
trial firms in the country with offices in Los Angeles, San
Francisco, New York, and Washington, D.C. Whether plaintiff or
defendant, individual or Fortune 500 corporation or entrepreneur,
clients call upon Ellis George when seeking litigation counsel of
the highest quality, creativity, dedication, and ethics. Visit
www.ellisgeorge.com for more information.
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Ellis George LLP Eric George, 310-274-7100