Reality TV News

Dallas jury orders ex-Cheaters host to pay damages for posting clips online

Former Cheaters host Tommy Habeeb AKA Tommy Grand

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A U.S. district court jury in Dallas has ordered a former host of reality show Cheaters to fork over $390,000, after he posted clips of the show online without permission from the production company.

Bobby Goldstein Productions, Inc. (BGP), creators of Cheaters and Cheaters Uncensored, were awarded the settlement in a copyright infringement lawsuit against American Television Distribution (ATVD), a company owned by former Cheaters host Thomas Habeeb, AKA Tommy Grand.

According to a release, an agreement between Goldstein and Habeeb gave Habeeb the right to secure pay-per-view contracts for Cheaters Uncensored, while a separate agreement made Goldstein the sole owner of Cheaters copyrights.

But testimony in the trial revealed that, shortly after the agreement was reached, someone at ATVD created YouTube and Dailymotion accounts and began posting trailers of Cheaters episodes.

The jury determined that ATVD should have known that the episodes were copyrighted.

"The agreement allowed Mr. Habeeb to secure pay-per-view contracts for Cheaters Uncensored episodes. But his company was never granted permission to post those copyrighted materials on any online video-sharing platform," says attorney Jeff Bragalone of Bragalone Olejko Saad, PC.

Bragalone Oleko Saad represented BGP ins Bobby Goldstein Productions, Inc. v. Thomas L. Habeeb et al, case number 3:21-cv-01924-G, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and not uncoincidentally also sent out this release.

BGP sent a cease-and-desist letter to ATVD in April 2021 and the trailers were removed from all online platforms and the ATVD website by July 2021.

The jury ordered ATVD to pay $15,000 in statutory damages for each of the 26 episodes used in the trailers.

The greater crime is that the release makes no mention of Joey Greco, who was unquestionably Cheaters' best host ever.

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Putting into Plano

New Plano restaurant Sip'Stroke tees up golf with chef-driven fare

Saffron salmon skewers, one of the featured seafood offerings on Chef Madan Oli’s menu at Sip’Stroke.

Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

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It's tee time for a new restaurant featuring a private Full Swing golf simulator and an indoor putt-putt course in Plano: Called Sip’Stroke, the new "eatertainment" spot is opening Saturday, August 1 at 5969 Dallas Pkwy.

The concept comes from Kushal Raj Bastakoti, a cityscape artist and interior designer from Nepal who moved to Dallas in 2013 to attend the University of North Texas. Bastakoti also owns Skyline Lounge in downtown Dallas, which opened earlier this year, and is a franchisee of the Asian beverage and dessert chain Feng Cha Café.

He says he chose the location due to the rapid growth of businesses and residences in the nearby Legacy area.

“At Sip’Stroke we created a space that is entirely unique — it feels like you're on a 9-hole golf course, but paired with exceptional dining,” he says.

Although built around golf, the restaurant is also chef-driven. Bastakoti recruited chef Madan Oli, who launched his culinary career in Copenhagen, where he developed a focus on high-quality ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and presentation.

“My goal is to bring people together through modern American cuisine with bold flavors and global inspiration,” says Oli. “Every dish is crafted with care, balance, and a true passion for hospitality.”

$Sip\u2019Stroke$ At Sip’Stroke, you can catch the game, play a round of putt-putt, and enjoy a high-end meal.Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

Oli designed a menu featuring shared boards, fresh seafood, premium steaks, elevated bar staples, and desserts. Highlights include prime ribeye frites, saffron salmon, maple leaf duck breast, Cabernet-braised short ribs, Wagyu sliders, and a selection of tacos and wings, with prices ranging from $20 to $35.

The full bar serves classic and signature cocktails, along with shots, wine, beer, and zero-proof drinks.

The venue includes a private golf simulator that accommodates up to eight guests, a custom nine-hole mini-golf course integrated into the dining room, seating for 60 indoors, and an additional 15 seats on the patio.

While Sip’Stroke has been operating with limited hours during a soft opening over the past several days, regular business hours begin Saturday, August 1, from 12 noon to 12 midnight daily. A grand opening celebration is planned for late August.

A second Sip’Stroke location is also in the works next to Skyline Lounge at 2012 Commerce St. in downtown Dallas and is expected to open before the end of the year. The owners say restoring the historic 100-year-old building has taken longer than anticipated.

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