On May 12, 2021, the Los Angeles City Council (the “Council”) took the first step towards making the popular L.A. Al Fresco outdoor dining program permanent. The Council voted 14-0 to approve a motion that directs various...more
On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department (the “Department”) is expected to issue a new Public Health Officer order to officially move into the least restrictive “yellow tier” of California’s...more
On April 27, 2021, the Small Business Administration ("SBA") announced that the much-anticipated Restaurant Revitalization Fund would be opening on May 3, 2021 at 9 am PST/12 pm EST. Restaurant operators may register through...more
On Monday, April 19, 2021, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered his 2021 State of the City speech and announced several initiatives designed to assist restaurants.
The proposals for restaurant relief included in...more
On April 17, 2021, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (“Department”) revised its protocol for restaurants to permit increased activities in light of the County’s Orange Tier reopening.
The changes include...more
On Saturday, April 17, 2021, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) released its much-anticipated guidelines for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
On April 13, 2021, during a town hall with the Independent Restaurant...more
On April 8, 2021, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued guidance regarding the temporary 100-percent deduction for food and beverage purchased from restaurants.
Beginning January 1, 2021,...more
On March 16, 2021, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the “Board”) revised its protocol for issuing fines to businesses violating the County’s COVID-19 protocols, reversing course. These protocols were implemented...more
On March 15, 2021, Los Angeles County officially entered into the state’s Red Tier, permitting indoor dining at 25% occupancy. The County’s Department of Public Health issued a revised Public Health Order (the “Order”) with...more
On March 11, 2021, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (the “Department”) announced an anticipated reopening of certain activities between March 15 and March 17, as L.A. County moves to the lower risk Red Tier...more
3/12/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Entertainment Venues ,
Masks ,
Municipalities ,
Museums ,
Public Schools ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retailers ,
Shopping Centers ,
Vaccinations
The American Rescue Plan Act (“the Act”) was passed by the Senate on March 6, 2021, and is now headed for ratification by the House of Representatives and signature by President Biden. The $1.9 trillion stimulus includes over...more
On March 1, 2021, the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District ruled in favor of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (the “Department”) officials who halted outdoor dining in November 2020 during a spike in...more
On February 23, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a legislative package of six bills providing relief to individuals and businesses experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these measures are...more
On February 9, 2021, a divided Ninth Circuit Panel held that consumer claims against the P.F. Chang’s restaurant chain based on the term “Krab Mix” in certain menu items could proceed. The Court reversed a lower court...more
On February 4, 2021, the Senate voted 90-10 to approve a Restaurant Rescue Plan as an amendment to a larger budget resolution. Senate Amendment 261 was co-sponsored by Republican Senator Roger Wicker and Democratic Senator...more
The Los Angeles County Public Health Department issued a new order outlining protocols for businesses to follow. These new rules are designed to decrease COVID transmission risk in restaurant settings....more
On January 25, 2021, the California Department of Public Health announced that it was lifting the Regional Stay at Home Order for all regions statewide, including Southern California. Four-week ICU capacity projections for...more
On December 21, 2020, Congress agreed to a $900 billion stimulus bill, passed as The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“the Act”). The 5,593-page Act includes funds designated for direct relief, additional money for...more
On November 4, 2020, Uber, Lyft and Door Dash secured a victory in their expensive campaign to categorize app-based drivers as independent contractors. 55% of California voters voted in favor of Proposition 22, which means...more
12/2/2020
/ ABC Test ,
Borello Test ,
Delivery Drivers ,
DoorDash ,
Dynamex ,
Employee Definition ,
Food Manufacturers ,
Gig Economy ,
Independent Contractors ,
Lyft ,
New Legislation ,
Restaurant Industry ,
State Labor Laws ,
Uber ,
Wage and Hour
On November 17, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors determined at a closed meeting that it would be setting a 10pm curfew for restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries and non-essential retail businesses. These...more
After the success and positive feedback for its “L.A. Al Fresco” program from customers and restaurant owners, the Los Angeles City Council is moving to make the initiative permanent.
The L.A. Al Fresco Program was first...more
On November 9, 2020, the City of Los Angeles adopted an ordinance permitting businesses to refuse entry to anyone entering the premises without a face covering.
The ordinance adds Section 200.91 to the Municipal Code,...more
On October 27, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a recommendation to consider allowing restaurants, breweries, and wineries to temporarily charge a “COVID-19 Recovery Charge” for on-site dining. The...more
11/6/2020
/ Breweries ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Fees ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Local Ordinance ,
Municipalities ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Relief Measures ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Small Business ,
Surcharges ,
Wineries
Below is a summary of recent developments for the Food, Beverage and Hospitality industry in terms of Internet laws and regulations.
Consumer Privacy and the CCPA -
In June 2018, California enacted one of the most...more
10/26/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Corporate Fines ,
Data Breach ,
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Marriott ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Unruh Civil Rights Act ,
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ,
Website Accessibility ,
Websites
On September 24, 2020, Governor Newsom enacted AB-2149, the Fair Food Delivery Act of 2020. The new law prohibits food delivery platforms from arranging for the delivery of food delivery orders without the express...more