Taste of Italy owners’ lawyer wants off the case

The Latham restaurant Taste of Italy has been in the spotlight over the last couple months for all the wrong reasons. Now, in a lawsuit brought against them by the founder of Facebook group 518 Foodies, their attorney defending them has asked to be excused from the case, claiming an "irretrievable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship."

The Cappellos, who own the restaurant, are being sued for defamation, product disparagement, and civil assault by Jackie Silvestri-Edwards, who founded 518 Foodies in 2019. The lawsuit stems from the fallout of a comment on a 518 Foodies post in November 2024, that called the Cappellos "very rude people" for their response to a customer complaint, after which multiple other commenters aired their own criticism.

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Both sides agree that Alyssa Cappelo called Silvestri-Edwards to ask that the post be removed. When that request was denied, Alyssa Cappello became combative, threatening to "rip your ******* hair out" and stating "you don't want this. OK, because I do give a **** OK, and I'll take a ******* assault charge for you."

Frank Cappello later allegedly made online comments that form the basis of the suit's allegations of defamation and business disparagement. He went on to claim that Silvestri-Edwards was in financial peril, had considered bankruptcy, and failed on five different businesses. He also stated he stopped using Silvestri-Edwards' marketing services because he felt "ripped off."

The attorney's motion for release from the case is based on them "repeatedly fail(ing) to take and follow the advice rendered by counsel,” and that “there is a fundamental disagreement between the Firm and Defendants with respect to how to proceed in this action, and an accompanying breakdown in the communication between the Firm and the Defendants.”  Finally, according to the motion, the Cappellos "have taken other actions with which the firm fundamentally disagrees."

The filing does not mention the ongoing issue that began in early July when Alyssa Cappelo made an insensitive anti-Muslim remark online following the death of a disabled boy in Menands.