Battle Breaks out Between Medical-Themed Burger Grills

(MYFOX NATIONAL) – A battle is brewing between two heavy-weight and calorie-laden restaurants. In one corner is the Heart Attack Grill, from Chandler, Ariz., which has brought a federal lawsuit against Heart Stoppers Sports Grill of Delray Beach, Fla., claiming that the second shop stole his emergency-room, hamburger restaurant concept.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that Jon Basso, owner of the Arizona eatery, claimed that Iggy Lena and Bob Kutnick, who opened Heart Stoppers six-weeks ago, stole his idea and he wants them to cease and desist.

The Heart Attack Grill has garnered attention for food that celebrates calories with dishes like "Flatliner Fries" and simple, double, triple and quadruple "Bypass Burgers." The restaurant also features waitresses dressed as nurses and cooks dressed like surgeons.

The Heart Stoppers Sports Grill offers "Artery Cloggers" appetizers like the "Chili Chest Pain Fries" and "Brewzed and Battered Onion Rings." The restaurant also has "The Heart Attacker 1/2 Pounder" hamburger and "Killer Wings." Heart Stoppers also has a hospital theme, with hospital gear around the restaurant and waitresses dressed as nurses, according to a review in Burger Beast .

"Heart Attack Grill is the originator of the medically-themed hamburger grill and restaurant," said Robert Kain, Basso's Fort Lauderdale attorney, reported the Sun-Sentinel . "It sells high-calorie food products and we have had very extensive media coverage, including numerous shows on the Travel Channel and the Food Network. In my mind, we are just as well known as McDonald's."

The lawsuit outlines about 30 ways Heart Stoppers is similar, including the offer of free food to patrons weighing more than 350 pounds, reported Slashfood .

The Florida couple actually discussed with Basso the possibility of a Heart Attack Grill franchise in south Florida. But Eric Lee, attorney for the Heart Stoppers , said in response to the lawsuit that "their theme is completely different."

These hamburger grilles are bucking the trend of promoting more health conscious choices at restaurants. The Wall Street Journal reported that restaurants from Applebee's to Starbucks are pushing new low-calorie menu items in an effort to attract customers who say they want healthier options.