Escobar family files $ 5 million lawsuit vs. Aspen businesses

Pablo Escobar’s family company has leveled a $ 5 million federal lawsuit against a trio of Aspen businesses named after Colombia’s “King of Cocaine.”

Escobar Inc., which was founded by the late drug lord’s brother Roberto, is suing Ryan Chadwick and three limited liability companies he controls: Barwest Group, which does business as the Escobar Aspen nightclub downtown; Escobar Spirits, which sells Escobar Vodka; and Escobar Aspen. The lawsuit was filed Monday in the U. S. District Court of Denver.

“We are the official holding company that manages the rights of ... Pablo Escobar, and we do have some issues with the bar and Ryan Chadwick,” Olof Gustafsson, CEO of Escobar Inc., said Monday in a phone interview.

Escobar Inc. is incorporated in Puerto Rico and keeps its headquarters in Beverly Hills, Calif. According to the company website, Roberto Escobar worked as the accountant and chief of assassination for his brother’s notorious Medellín Cartel, which operated from 1972 to ’ 93.

“We don’t like going to court. But the reality of the situation is we own the Pablo Escobar name, and nobody else can use it,” Gustafsson said. “And it’s going to be pretty hard for them to prove that they can use it in a court of law.”

Contacted Tuesday, Chadwick said Escobar Inc. has a questionable business history and he has no plans to stop using the Escobar name despite the court action.

“We’re going to protect what is ours and what we started 10 years ago,” he said. “And all I have to say is, ‘ Look at Escobar Inc. and the people who are behind it.’ ”

Escobar Inc. also has petitioned the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Chadwick’s use of the name. Filed April 30, the petition said Escobar Inc. is involved in the sale of Escobar products including cellphones, hookahs, cologne and toys.