Family in dispute over el Jimador name on new restaurant

A family dispute over who controls the right to use the name "el Jimador" already is in court, but negotiations are under way to see if an agreement can be reached and a trial avoided.

The owners of el Jimador Inc. filed a lawsuit Aug. 20 in Cole County Circuit Court, alleging that a family member, Rafael Ayala, and two other people -- identified in the suit as John Does I and II -- are trying to open a Mexican-style restaurant in the 400 block of Rock Hill Road and do business under the "el Jimador" name, even though the corporation is not involved in the new business.

"Jimador" is a Spanish word defining a specialized Mexican farmer who identifies and then harvests ripe agave plants -- which primarily are used for the production of alcoholic drinks, including tequila.