A defamation suit filed by bubble tea brand Tealive against Chatime Malaysia will be heard next February.
Tealive’s owner Loob Holdings was formerly the primary franchise holder for Chatime before a series of disputes resulted in Chatime owners La Kaffa International terminating their agreement. Tealive is claiming that statements made and released to the media subsequent to Loob Holding’s departure from the brand were injurious to its business.
The decision to proceed to trial follows the rejection of an appeal to cancel the suit by Chatime and its directors.
Tealive is demanding a written apology to be published in English and Bahasa Malaysia newspapers, an injunction to prevent a repeat of the defamatory statements, and general damages, costs and other relief as appropriate.