Restaurant Settles With Phone Book Over Listing Prank

A Montana barbecue restaurant has finally reached a settlement with the phone book that published its listing under the "Animal Carcass Removal" section of the yellow pages, a prank that the owner said hurt his business and eventually wound up as a joke on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

According to Bar 3 Bar-B-Q restaurant owner Hunter Lacey, the listing was no humorous accident. He maintains that his restaurant was published in the animal carcass disposal section of the phone book on purpose after he refused to buy an advertisement from a salesperson who no longer works for the company.

According to the Huffington Post, the lawsuit was filed back in 2009 when the listing was initially printed. The listing has since reappeared in other print and online directories. Leno found the joke and made fun of the restaurant on The Tonight Show in 2011. Lacey claims that his business suffered from the unwanted attention.

The Huffington Post reports that the companies have finally reached a settlement, and while the terms were not disclosed, a version of the agreement proposed back in September said it would include a payment to the restaurant.