A restaurant expert witness can be called upon to provide opinion, testimony, and reports for a range of incidents, including slips and falls, safety and security, and restaurant operations – just to name a few. Attorneys get in touch with possible experts to check if they are willing to serve. A positive response means the…
Owners, operators and restaurant experts who advise these clients are aware that the food service industry has mostly younger, lower wage workers. This demographic of employees in the workplace, who are often teens and twenty year olds especially in the quick service and fast casual sectors, can contribute to issues arising from pilferage, theft and harassment. These younger…
The service of hot beverages from a restaurant safety expert aspect will always present challenges for restaurateurs to insure their patrons are not accidently burned. Whether it is serving hot coffee at a table or giving a customer a cup of hot tea or cocoa to take out, it is important that servers, counter persons and…
A number of years ago we performed analysis as the foodservice expert on a dispute involving a failed restaurant. We looked at various studies, including one from the IRS and another from Michigan State University, in addition to evaluating and surveying existing food and beverage establishments within proximity to the subject restaurant. It was concluded…
Review from a restaurant expert perspective of two class action lawsuits suggests owner and operators should take a closer look at work procedures, staffing and tip credit policies. One case involves in part a recent judgment about the distribution of workloads based on what qualifies under tip credit procedures. The other lawsuits filed against other…
Advice from a restaurant safety expert can lower the risk of foodservice lawsuits and makes your restaurant safer for customers and staff. This also lowers a restaurant risk of failure. But, you don’t have to be an expert to take some sensible precautions. In 8 years covered by a California OSHA study, 135 workplace injuries…
Employee tip pooling and other distribution policies from a restaurant wage and hour expert perspective can be a source of contention amongst hospitality and foodservice industry workers. Worse, it has given rise to a number of disputes and lawsuits. Most notably is the recent settlement by Outback of $1.25 Million involving their employees in Minnesota.…
Over the years, our firm has been routinely engaged as a hotel expert witness on a variety of issues for litigation, receivership and reorganization. We also provide preliminary no-cost webinars and consultations relating to the various aspects that may impact a case to help educate clients and their attorneys, corporate counsel and other legal professionals.…
It would be interesting to hear what restaurant expert witness opinions were rendered on the recent Applebee case, if any, that was rejected on appeal to the Supreme Court. The restaurant chain is concerned about the cost ramifications that the lower courts will impose among other issues. In particular and at issue is the separation of…
There is a practice in the litigation arena that is sometimes referred to as “benching” a hospitality expert or other types of consultants. This is where a law firm will name and retain an expert to prevent opposing counsel from using that particular person because of their credentials or as leverage to promote a settlement…