Ill Niño Members Seek Restraining Order, Claim Online Harassment by Ex-Guitarist and Girlfriend

# Overview Longtime Ill Niño drummer Dave Chavarri and bassist Laz Pina, together with their wives, have taken legal action in Dallas, Texas. They filed for a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction against former Ill Niño guitarist Marc Rizzo, Rizzo's live-in girlfriend Christine Samaroo, and three unnamed individuals. The filing alleges a coordinated campaign of online harassment beginning around 2022 and seeks financial damages plus injunctive relief.

# What the filing says The complaint describes a pattern that began with targeted attacks on the wives of the two musicians using fake social media accounts to spread false rumors and hostile commentary. The plaintiffs say Samaroo primarily monitored and commented on Chavarri's wife's social posts. The harassment allegedly expanded to include personal attacks on Chavarri, disclosure of confidential personal information, and false allegations about Pina made to Pina's wife.

The filing claims that Rizzo offered apologies to Chavarri and Pina about Samaroo's behavior, but that the conduct continued. Plaintiffs assert Samaroo later engaged other people to continue the alleged intimidation and harassment.

# Business-related allegations Beyond personal attacks, the complaint alleges Rizzo contacted customers and acquaintances of Chavarri's touring rental business and made defamatory statements intended to harm future contracts. The plaintiffs say those actions caused financial injury and seek monetary relief.

# Legal claims and relief sought There are five counts listed in the documents:

• Libel per se and business disparagement.
• Tortious interference with existing contracts and with prospective business relationships.
• Application for a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction.

The plaintiffs describe the alleged conduct as intentional and malicious. They have requested a jury trial and are seeking financial damages along with the court-ordered restraining order and injunction.

# Context about Ill Niño and Marc Rizzo Dave Chavarri is identified in the filing as the only original member of Ill Niño. Marc Rizzo joined the band not long after its formation, served as lead guitarist until 2003, and returned to the group for a period between 2021 and 2024. Laz Pina joined the band about a year after its formation.

# What's clear and what's not The filing lays out the plaintiffs' allegations and their requested remedies. The publicly shared documents claim harassment beginning around 2022 and describe specific types of alleged conduct: fake accounts, false rumors about the wives, disclosure of personal information, defamation of a touring business, and recruitment of others to continue harassment. The complaint names Rizzo and Samaroo and includes three John Does thought to have worked with Samaroo.

# Immediate implications If the court issues the temporary restraining order and injunction, it would place legal limits on communications and contact by the named defendants while the case proceeds. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for financial harm and reputational injury tied to the alleged campaign.

# Where this stands now The filing is active in the 14th Judicial District Court in Dallas and has been made public. The plaintiffs have asked for a jury trial and are pursuing both injunctive and monetary relief. No court decision is reported in the material provided.