Legal Trouble

It’s Apparently Dog Eat Dog at 5 Rabbit

Well, this is a bummer that leaves the future of a fast-rising brewery in doubt. Since its launch less than two years ago, 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, the Latino-flavored brewery, has been on a fast track, moving into sales at Chipotle and with plans for a southwest side brewery and taproom. But something else seems to have been brewing— a clash of egos between co-founders Andres Araya (who is CEO) and Isaac Showaki (CFO) that has now resulted in a lawsuit. We only have Araya’s side of the story from his filing, but he claims that Showaki “became increasingly obsessed with his perceived lack of power and influence at the company and began a campaign to tarnish and besmirch Araya’s reputation in an effort to acquire control of the company,” spreading stories about an affair and misappropriation of company funds which Araya denies. Neither party would comment to Crain’s. [Crain’s]

It’s Apparently Dog Eat Dog at 5 Rabbit