In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois, Carma HoldCo Inc.—the licensing firm behind the conceptual launch of Hulk Hogan’s “Real American Beer”—is seeking at least $10 million, alleging that two former executives misappropriated trade secrets, breached contracts, and coerced Hogan into launching the beer through a competing company.
The Legal Claims
Carma alleges that its former president, Chad Bronstein, and chief legal officer, Nicole Cosby, leveraged internal proposals and marketing concepts to build a rival entity, Rahm Inc., after their termination in November 2023. According to the complaint, they continued private negotiations with Hogan and the Busch brewing family—despite Carma’s ongoing trademark discussions with those same parties—to launch “Real American Beer” independently under the Rahm umbrella.
The suit outlines clear legal violations:
- Misappropriation of trade secrets under both federal and Illinois statutes
- Breach of contract and fiduciary duty
- Tortious interference with both contractual and potential business relations.
In addition to the $10 million in damages, Carma is seeking restitution from Bronstein ($231,000), ongoing royalties, and an injunction preventing Rahm from using allegedly stolen materials or branding elements.
Hulk Hogan’s Role- Hulk Hogan’s Beer Brand
Hogan, who passed away on July 24, 2025, is not a defendant in the IP lawsuit—but his likeness and involvement lie at the heart of the dispute. Carma asserts that Hogan was originally contractually aligned as its brand ambassador, but was later convinced by Bronstein and Cosby to partner with Rahm instead.
While Hogan hasn’t publicly commented on the case, the Real American Beer brand continues to proliferate in retail and promotional channels, including Walmart and WWE-affiliated outlets, as the litigation moves forward.
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