America's Test Kitchen Files Lawsuit Against Editor-Publisher Christopher Kimball

Just last week, the owners of America's Test Kitchen filed a lawsuit against editor-publisher and TV personality Christopher Kimball for "ripping off" the Boston-based TV and radio show for his new brand, Milk Street.

The 39-page lawsuit, filed in Suffolk County Superior Court, claims that Kimball built his new venture while under America's Test Kitchen's payroll and used its database and recipes as sources for Milk Street, which would make the brand a direct competitor with ATK, The Boston Globe reported.

The lawsuit's allegations are based on a chain of emails found on Kimball's email server that indicate the celebrity chef was building his new business prior to leaving ATK and even using the ATK name to search for Milk Street's office space. The allegations extend past copying ATK's business model to even the disloyalty of other employees.

"At least 15 former and current ATK employees and freelancers now work for Milk Street," states the lawsuit. "This case is not about legitimate competition — it is about a profoundly disloyal fiduciary."

According to The New York Times, Kimball said most of the allegations were false or twisted interpretations.

A response for the court is being prepared by Kimball and his legal team this month.