A judge dismissed all but one allegation filed against Hubbard Inn by a woman who posted a video alleging restaurant staff injured her in March.
In the now-deleted TikTok, Julie Reel alleged that a bouncer at the River North restaurant pushed her down the stairs between the evening of March 9 and the morning of March 10. The video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times across social media.
Soon after, Hubbard Inn responded with its own TikTok, denying the assault after interviewing its staff and reviewing their records. The response video compared Reel’s narration to on-premise security footage. In the two clips shared, Reel and a friend appear to be escorted through the second floor and down the stairs.
Hubbard Inn filed a defamation lawsuit against Reel on March 18, arguing it had experienced canceled reservations, one-star reviews, damage to its reputation and financial losses of over $30,000.
Reel then filed seven counterclaims in response in July, including intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery. Reel’s filing also said the restaurant’s TikTok was missing video of the area of the alleged incident and that there was medical evidence of injuries.
Cook County Judge Patrick Sherlock dismissed six of Reel’s claims, including an allegation of defamation. In court documents from Dec. 18, Sherlock wrote that Hubbard Inn’s TikTok “merely contradicts” Reel’s version of events and is not defamatory. The judge also dismissed Reel’s allegation of battery against the bouncer because that employee was not named in her filing.
Reel’s allegation of battery against Hubbard Inn remains pending.
Michael Forde, the lawyer from Forde & O’Meara representing Hubbard Inn, said they are pleased with the outcome and that “the videos speak for themselves.”
“This outcome affirms our longstanding commitment to operating with integrity and respect for our guests and their safety,” Hubbard Inn said in a statement on the judge’s decision.
Rebecca Kaiser Fournier, an attorney at Henderson-Parks representing Reel, said they are still exploring options via testimony and evidence.
“We are pleased that the court is allowing Ms. Reel’s claim for the physical injuries she suffered at the hands of Hubbard Inn and its bouncer to proceed, and that the court is allowing her to reassert certain claims once the identity of the bouncer is revealed.”
Hubbard Inn’s allegation of defamation against Reel for her TikTok video remains pending.