Ill Nino drummer Dave Chavarri and bassist Laz Pina, along with their wives, have filed for a temporary restraining order and injunction against the band’s former guitarist Marc Rizzo and his live-in girlfriend Christine Samaroo, alleging an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation.
The legal action was filed in the 14th Judicial District Court in Dallas, Texas, and also names three unidentified “John Doe” defendants who the plaintiffs believe may have been involved in the alleged harassment campaign.
According to the filing, the alleged activity began around 2022 and initially targeted Chavarri and Pina’s wives through social media. The plaintiffs claim fake accounts were used to spread what they describe as false statements about the women’s character, while Samaroo is alleged to have monitored Chavarri’s wife online and responded to her social media activity.
The filing alleges that the situation later expanded to attacks directed at Chavarri himself, including the alleged disclosure of confidential personal information. Pina’s wife is also said to have received what the plaintiffs characterize as false allegations concerning her husband.
The musicians further claim that Rizzo previously apologized to Chavarri and Pina over Samaroo’s alleged online conduct, but that the behavior allegedly continued afterward.
The legal complaint also involves allegations surrounding Chavarri’s touring rental business. According to the filing, the defendants accused Chavarri of improper business practices, while Rizzo is alleged to have contacted some of the drummer’s customers and associates in an effort to damage his business relationships and future contracts.
Chavarri and Pina are seeking financial damages, along with additional relief from the court.
The lawsuit contains five separate counts. The first two involve allegations of libel per se and business disparagement, while the third and fourth concern alleged tortious interference with existing and prospective contractual and business relationships. The fifth count seeks the temporary restraining order and injunction.
The allegations contained in the filing have not been established as fact in court, and the defendants’ responses were not included in the source material.
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