Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING – Though Sheryl Eytcheson has turned over Mr. Taco recipes to her attorney for safekeeping during an ongoing lawsuit, the widow of one of the restaurant's former owners argues that they don't qualify as trade secrets.

Eugene Bonofiglo, owner of BEC Land Co., and his son Bill, who is trying to reopen the iconic restaurant, have filed a lawsuit against Eytcheson, her step daughter and a former Mr. Taco accountant seeking the return of the restaurant's recipes and other "trade secrets."

Eytcheson admits to having the recipes, which were created by her late husband, Mark, but she said in a formal response to the lawsuit filed Wednesday by attorney Joe Ernst that they aren't trade secrets, because the restaurant's former owners never treated them like trade secrets.

The state's legal definition of a trade secret requires that it be "the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy."

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Eytcheson's response notes that the original recipes are still in use today at Taco House in Traverse City, which is operated by John Coscarelli, a family member of Mr. Taco co-founder Paul Coscarelli. Taco House opened in 1981.

The Bonofiglos claim sole ownership of Mr. Taco trade secrets, which they claim include the recipes. They became concerned that Eytcheson was going to sell the recipes after comments she made on Facebook in 2014. She also denied threatening to sell the recipes in her response to the lawsuit.

The parties met in court on Aug. 12, and Judge Joyce Draganchuk ordered Eytcheson to turn over recipes and formulas to her attorney.

The Bonofiglos' attorney, Michael Perry, declined comment.

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Mr. Taco was founded on Logan Street in Lansing by Eugene Bonofiglo, Mark Eytcheson and Paul Coscarelli in 1966. It closed in 2005.

While the legal battle continues, Bill Bonofiglo is working to reopen Mr. Taco at 3122 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. He has repainted the building and restored the sign. He also has copies of the recipes. A date for reopening hasn’t been set.

Alexander Alusheff is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.