Restaurateur Claudio Vigilante’s Associated Cuisine faces new legal action.CH Ltd, landlord for Associated Cuisine’s Maria’s Ristorante and Fresco’s wine bar, has taken out a writ against the company.A spokesman for CH Ltd said there are alleged lease arrears or back rent of some $79,000 and Associated Cuisine had been given notice to vacate the property given “their clear breach of the lease”.At one point last week the entrance to Maria’s and the wine bar were locked as part of the dispute with the landlord.On behalf of Associated Cuisine, lawyer Paul Harshaw wrote: “We are aware of demands for rent by the landlord, but those demands are disputed and the landlord knows that. That is likely the reason the landlord has avoided making any application to the court. To be clear, there is no chance of eviction. Only the court can evict a tenant, and CH Limited has made no application to any court for possession of the premises or for eviction of Associated Cuisine Limited.”He claimed that Associated Cuisine has also been the victim of alleged “criminal damage”.“That is the reason Maria’s was closed for lunch (one day last week) ...,” he said, adding that “it’s most unfortunate that Associated Cuisine Limited finds itself the target of such a campaign at this time and in these economic circumstances”.Multiple lawsuits have been filed over the former Fresco’s group of restaurants.Aqua, Silk and 64° Bar & Grill at Port Royal were all closed while Mr Vigilante has renamed Fresco’s Maria’s Ristorante, and retained O Bar, the former Opus Bar and Lounge, which was owned by him and other shareholders.Last month O-Bar, on Bermudiana Road, was put up for sale.Earlier this year Capital G Bank took out a writ against Associated Express, Claudio Vigilante and Rosemarie Madeiros, and businessman Christopher Trott filed legal action against Heather Vigilante and Claudio Vigilante on March 27.In April GSC Ltd took out a writ against Vigilante and Royal Cuisine Ltd and then Bristol Cellar lodged legal action against Vigilante.Mr Vigilante himself has also taken out writs, arising from the change of ownership of some of the restaurants formerly in the Fresco’s group.