Wellness influencer Marisa Hochberg, who was previously accused of illegally squatting in a Hamptons home during the pandemic, is facing a lawsuit for allegedly misrepresenting her professional relationship with Montauk hotspot, The Surf Lodge.
The lawsuit was filed by the owner of The Surf Lodge in a Manhattan federal court on Friday, claiming that Hochberg caused damage to the hotel and bar’s brand by using its business names to lure clients away.
Who is Marisa Hochberg? Wellness influencer Marisa Hochberg accused of squatting sued
According to the lawsuit, Jayma Cardoso, owner of The Surf Lodge, hired Hochberg at the celebrity hotspot in 2019, and even considered expanding the business with a yoga studio called “The Sanctuary” in Montauk. As part of her job, Hochberg managed the hotel’s social media. However, after a legal dispute in 2020 over alleged rent refusal at a luxury Hamptons home, Cardoso decided to cut all communication with Hochberg and dissolve an LLC created for The Sanctuary.
The lawsuit claims that after this, Cardoso discovered Hochberg had been using The Sanctuary’s name to lure clients, including major companies like AMEX and Saks Fifth Avenue, to create a “wellness house” in Bridgehampton called the “American Express Sanctuary Wellness House.”
When Cardoso made it clear to Hochberg that she was committing fraud by trying to operate and conduct business as The Sanctuary without permission, Hochberg allegedly changed the Instagram name of her wellness house to “@thesurflodgesanctuary” to trade on Cardoso’s established brand.
The lawsuit accuses Hochberg of violating trademark and false association laws. Cardoso is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial. Hochberg did not respond to requests for comment as of Friday.
In conclusion, Marisa Hochberg is facing legal trouble yet again, this time for allegedly misrepresenting her professional relationship with The Surf Lodge and using its business names to attract clients. The hotel and bar’s owner, Jayma Cardoso, has filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.
Source: Mckpage.com
