Wamstad claims that, "Since III Forks' opening in August 1998, the Observer and Stuertz have exhibited a negative predisposition toward III Forks and Wamstad, showing a pattern of misrepresenting III Forks in general and Wamstad personally." After "Family man" was published, Wamstad claims he "...has been exposed to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule, the burden of which has been shared by his wife and children."
In his suit, Wamstad seeks a judgment of $10 million, which he says he will donate to Southern Methodist University's journalism school "...Consistent with the fact that Wamstad is motivated in this suit not by money but by a desire to restore his reputation and to stop the Dallas Observer and Stuertz before they attempt to maliciously harm other persons..."
"Family man" profiled Wamstad's rise from modest beginnings as a meat cutter to a position at the top of Dallas' cutthroat restaurant market. It also detailed his ex-wife and adult son's allegations in court testimony that he physically abused them -- allegations that Wamstad has denied under oath and in media interviews.
