In the highly competitive quick-service restaurant industry, fast-food chains are continually looking for an edge over their competitors. Some brands have found a way to distinguish themselves from other fast-food...more
Owners of bars, taverns, restaurants and other establishments serving alcohol kept a close eye on a case before the Supreme Court of Florida this year. At issue was a $28.6 million jury verdict against a bar awarded to a...more
On July 1, 2010, the law governing transitory foreign substance cases shifted dramatically after section 768.0710, Florida Statutes was supplanted by section 768.0755. The update in the law was seen as a win for premises...more
With travelers returning to hotel destinations across the world, threats of COVID-19 contamination continue to expose the hospitality industry to various legal risks. With more than 2,000 COVID-related cases currently on file...more
12/17/2021
/ AirBnB ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Canada ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Force Majeure Clause ,
Health and Safety ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Liability ,
Masks ,
Negligence ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Risk Management ,
Social Distancing
WILL THIS COVID LIFELINE FOR RESTAURANTS STICK AROUND?
After COVID-19 changed the world, stay at home orders and safety precautions decimated the restaurant industry. Governors across almost all 50 states, including...more
For here? Or, to go? No, we are not talking about just your food, because thanks to Florida Senate Bill 148/House Bill 329 (“S.B. 148”), certain food service establishments will now be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages to...more
5/17/2021
/ Alcohol Beverage Control ,
Beer ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Economic Stimulus ,
Executive Orders ,
Florida ,
Governor DeSantis ,
Hospitality Industry ,
New Legislation ,
Restaurant Industry ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Wine & Alcohol
It is no secret that the restaurant industry has been one of the harder-hits of the COVID-19 pandemic. With government shutdowns, limits on hours, restricted operations, and social distancing requirements,...more
4/29/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Eligibility Determination ,
Federal Grants ,
Financial Distress ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
Restaurant Industry ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs
Mentorship is all the rage these days and I have been blessed with some pretty brilliant mentors along the way. There have also been mentors whose actions taught me what not to do, and that’s valuable stuff too. Now, at 37...more
On March 29, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 72 into law, providing civil liability for business entities for COVID-19 related claims for damages, injury, or death in certain circumstances, and only after the...more
3/31/2021
/ Civil Liability ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Entities ,
Florida ,
Health Care Providers ,
Immunity ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Medical Malpractice ,
Negligence ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health Emergency ,
State and Local Government
On March 10, 2021, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal made a rare finding against arbitrability where an arbitration clause was present in a contract. Such a finding reminds contractors, vendors, and consumer service...more
COVID-19 has ravaged the economy, with the hospitality industry feeling especially compromised. Fear of community spread of the virus through travel and group events has dramatically reduced occupancy rates across the...more
9/18/2020
/ Bodily Injury ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Duty of Care ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Insurance Claims ,
Liability ,
Negligence ,
Premises Liability ,
Property Owners ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Risk Management ,
Risk Mitigation
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) provides, among other things, for eviction and mortgage foreclosure relief, as well as associated fees and penalties associated with nonpayment of rent...more
6/24/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Creditors ,
Fannie Mae ,
Federal Loans ,
Freddie Mac ,
HUD ,
Landlords ,
Mortgages ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Rent ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Tenants
On June 3, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida (exclusive of some South Florida counties) would enter Phase 2 of the Re-Open Florida Task Force’s Plan for Florida’s Recovery. Phase 2 permits restaurants to open...more