Hospitality

  • February 21, 2024

    Restaurant Software Co.'s $9M Investor Deal Gets 1st OK

    Shareholders in restaurant digital commerce software company Olo Inc. have received an initial green light for a $9 million deal to settle class action claims the company touted a soon-to-end partnership with fast-food chain Subway as an example of its success.

  • February 21, 2024

    Irish Pub Chain's Ex-CFO Gets 1.5 Years For $1M Tax Fraud

    The former chief financial officer of a pub chain with more than a dozen Irish-themed restaurants was sentenced to one and a half years in prison Wednesday by an Ohio federal court for his role in a bookkeeping scheme that defrauded eight states of $1 million in sales taxes.

  • February 21, 2024

    CoStar, Hotel Giants Accused Of Data-Driven Price-Fixing

    Hilton, Hyatt and other big name hotel operators are the target of a proposed class action alleging they colluded with hospitality industry analytics firm CoStar Group Inc. to fix prices in luxury hotel markets in Seattle and other major U.S. cities, according to a suit filed in Washington federal court.

  • February 21, 2024

    Dubious Of Peak Season Claims, Judge Nixes Lodge's H-2B App

    A U.S. Department of Labor judge has rejected a South Dakota hunting lodge's efforts to hire six seasonal housekeepers for hunting season, saying the work hours logged in its payroll reports undermine claims of a "crushing" need during the early part of the season.

  • February 21, 2024

    Chipotle Swaps Gift Cards For 'Worthless' Vouchers, Suit Says

    A Chipotle customer hit the fast-food chain with a proposed class action in California federal court Tuesday, alleging the company is unjustly making hundreds of thousands of dollars by refusing to refund orders made with gift cards and instead offering disgruntled customers vouchers so limited that they're effectively "worthless."

  • February 21, 2024

    1st Circ. Won't Revive $19M Casino Deal Suit Against Wynn

    The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a real estate executive's suit claiming Wynn Resorts reneged on a handshake deal to pay him $19 million for helping it obtain a casino license, pointing to an opinion from Massachusetts' top appellate court saying the agreement is unenforceable on public policy grounds.

  • February 21, 2024

    Atlantic City Hotels Want Room Rate Suit Tossed

    Atlantic City casinos said on Tuesday a suit alleging they conspired to inflate room rates should be tossed, arguing it doesn't show there was any kind of agreement between the casinos and that its claims are partially time-barred.

  • February 21, 2024

    Cruise Line Hornblower Hits Ch. 11 With Over $1B Debt

    Cruise line and ferry service Hornblower Group Inc. and affiliates on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Texas with a plan to cut $720 million from its more than $1 billion of debt through a deal that will hand majority control to private equity firm Strategic Value Partners.

  • February 20, 2024

    Fla. Gaming Pact Not Allowed Under Federal Law, Expert Says

    A Miami law school adjunct professor supporting a pair of casinos seeking to undo the Seminole Tribe of Florida's gaming agreement authorizing online sports betting has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the establishments' case or reverse a lower court decision, saying the pact violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

  • February 20, 2024

    7th Circ. Backs McDonald's Win Over 'Bad Faith' Hot Tea Suit

    The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday ruled that a lower court correctly tossed a man's $13 million "bad faith" lawsuit alleging he was burned by a McDonald's worker in Illinois who threw hot tea at him.

  • February 20, 2024

    Ill. Judge Scolds Defense Attys On Discovery: 'This Is Insanity'

    A Cook County judge trimmed a lawsuit Tuesday brought by investors alleging financial mismanagement of the firm behind celebrated Chicago restaurant Maple & Ash, but lambasted defense counsel for dragging out discovery, saying she was "flabbergasted" that they left out information in discovery responses that she ordered them to include late last year.

  • February 20, 2024

    Casinos Say 'Unique' Policy Should Cover $130M COVID Loss

    A casino operator with properties on the Las Vegas Strip and beyond told a Nevada federal court that its "unique" all-risk insurance is the broadest available coverage and should pay for $130 million in business interruption losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • February 20, 2024

    Eateries' Virus Losses Not Covered, Insurer Tells NC Justices

    Cincinnati Insurance Co. urged the North Carolina Supreme Court to affirm its win in a dispute with more than a dozen eateries over coverage for pandemic-related losses, saying government shutdown orders do not constitute direct physical loss or damage required to trigger coverage.

  • February 20, 2024

    Cool-Cheese Pizzeria Got Cold Feet Over $2.1M Sale, Suit Says

    A Pittsburgh pizzeria known for its unusual practice of putting cold cheese on its pies backed out of a $2.1 million sale just before a potential buyer came to visit, according to a lawsuit a real estate agent filed in Pennsylvania state court.

  • February 20, 2024

    Mich. Township Must Face Winery Wedding Ban Suit

    A Michigan federal judge has said he won't dismiss wineries' challenge to a Michigan town's rules limiting their ability to host weddings and other events, saying it would be "unwise" to toss the lawsuit because the wineries are still allegedly experiencing harm from the ordinance.

  • February 20, 2024

    Chancery Won't Block TripAdvisor's Nevada Move

    In a ruling with implications for other Delaware-chartered companies pondering corporate charter relocations, a Delaware vice chancellor on Monday refused to block travel planning giant TripAdvisor Inc.'s reincorporation in Nevada, but kept alive minority stockholder damage claims alleging the vote was unfair and tainted by controller clout.

  • February 20, 2024

    DoorDash Charges Excessive Fees, NYC Burger Eatery Says

    DoorDash was hit with a proposed class action Friday in California federal court by a New York City burger joint that accused the platform of employing a "widespread and pervasive practice" of levying service fees more than the 20% cap imposed by local legislations enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • February 20, 2024

    NC Panel Finds Condos Short-Term Rental Ban Unreasonable

    The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a condominium owners association can't ban short-term rentals through an amendment to the neighborhood's covenants, reasoning the restriction was too radical a departure from the original rules.

  • February 16, 2024

    'No Respect': 2nd Circ. Judge Chides Dissatisfied Arb. Users

    A Chinese cinema magnate's argument that he was inadequately notified of an arbitration that led to a $457 million penalty had a Second Circuit judge invoking the 1972 classic film "The Godfather" on Friday, as he criticized parties who only come to court to complain after the fact.

  • February 16, 2024

    MrBeast Can't Toss Restaurant Co.'s Burger Deal Countersuit

    A New York judge refused Friday to toss contract breach counterclaims against YouTube personality MrBeast filed by his restaurant business partner, Virtual Dining Concepts, over his tweets about a burger ghost kitchen deal gone awry, finding they didn't fall within the scope of New York's anti-SLAPP law.

  • February 16, 2024

    DOI Announces Final Rule On Class III Indian Gaming

    The U.S. Department of the Interior on Friday announced its final rule on changes to Class III Indian gaming compacts, updating the federal regulation to provide better guidance and transparency for tribes and states to negotiate those agreements under the Indian Gaming and Regulatory Act.

  • February 16, 2024

    Wyndham CEO Reports 'Expansive' FTC Query Into Takeover

    Wyndham Hotels and Resorts says that the Federal Trade Commission's "expansive" request for more information has "only increased" its concerns about the wisdom of Choice Hotels International's attempt to buy out the company without the board's blessing.

  • February 16, 2024

    Fed. Circ. Reverses Injunction In Adventure Parks IP Suit

    The Federal Circuit has reversed a Texas federal judge's decision to preliminarily block Kangaroo LLC from operating a part of its trampoline park using certain colors, saying the lower court didn't make "the requisite findings" to justify the injunction, and the injunction request fails on the merits.

  • February 16, 2024

    Off The Bench: NHL Antitrust, Daily Fantasy Dread, ESPN Bet

    In this week's Off the Bench, the NHL faces allegations of a vast, exploitative antitrust scheme, daily fantasy operators continue facing heat from state regulators, and New York gets a new sports betting player as ESPN Bet hits the Empire State.

  • February 16, 2024

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    News broke last week that Delaware's Court of Chancery will say goodbye to its current longest-serving jurist, a development that quickly overshadowed a busy week of new merger and board disputes, fee rulings, settlements, and books-and-records demands.

Expert Analysis

  • A Festival Of Litigation Could Arise From 'Electric Zoo' Fiasco

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    Over Labor Day weekend, thousands of electronic dance music fans were displeased with the organization of the New York City-based Electric Zoo festival, which quickly elicited comparisons to the 2017 Fyre Festival — and three kinds of litigation could ensue from the debacle, say attorneys at Seiden Law.

  • Law Firm Professional Development Steps To Thrive In AI Era

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    As generative artificial intelligence tools rapidly evolve, professional development leaders are instrumental in preparing law firms for the paradigm shifts ahead, and should consider three strategies to help empower legal talent with the skills required to succeed in an increasingly complex technological landscape, say Steve Gluckman and Anusia Gillespie at SkillBurst Interactive.

  • What Upholding Of Short-Term Rental Law Means For NYC

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    A New York state judge's dismissal of Airbnb's challenge against the Short-Term Rental Registration Law will benefit the city's hospitality industry and exert downward pressure on apartment rents, and potentially provide a model for other local governments around the U.S. to curb short-term apartment rentals, says Alexander Lycoyannis at Holland & Knight.

  • The Basics Of Being A Knowledge Management Attorney

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Michael Lehet at Ogletree Deakins discusses the role of knowledge management attorneys at law firms, the common tasks they perform and practical tips for lawyers who may be considering becoming one.

  • The 7 Most Notable FCRA Cases Of 2023 So Far

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    Both consumer reporting agencies and furnishers should take note of Fair Credit Reporting Act decisions by federal district and appellate courts so far this year, especially those concerning dispute processing and the distinction between legal and factual inaccuracies, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • To Hire And Keep Top Talent, Think Beyond Compensation

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    Firms seeking to appeal to sophisticated clients and top-level partners should promote mentorship, ensure that attorneys from diverse backgrounds feel valued, and clarify policies about at-home work, says Patrick Moya at Quaero Group.

  • Perspectives

    More States Should Join Effort To Close Legal Services Gap

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    Colorado is the most recent state to allow other types of legal providers, not just attorneys, to offer specific services in certain circumstances — and more states should rethink the century-old assumptions that shape our current regulatory rules, say Natalie Anne Knowlton and Janet Drobinske at the University of Denver.

  • Identifying Trends And Tips In Litigation Financing Disclosure

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    Growing interest and controversy in litigation financing raise several salient concerns, but exploring recent compelled disclosure trends from courts around the country can help practitioners further their clients' interests, say Sean Callagy and Samuel Sokolsky at Arnold & Porter.

  • Series

    The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Elrod On 'Jury Duty'

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    Though the mockumentary series “Jury Duty” features purposely outrageous characters, it offers a solemn lesson about the simple but brilliant design of the right to trial by jury, with an unwitting protagonist who even John Adams may have welcomed as an impartial foreperson, says Fifth Circuit Judge Jennifer Elrod.

  • Upcoming High Court ADA Cases May Signal Return To Basics

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    Recent cases, including Acheson Hotels v. Laufer, which will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in October, raise a fundamental question of whether Americans with Disabilities Act litigation has spiraled out of control without any real corresponding benefits to the intended beneficiaries: individuals with true disabilities, says Norman Dupont at Ring Bender.

  • 4 Business-Building Strategies For Introvert Attorneys

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Introverted lawyers can build client bases to rival their extroverted peers’ by adapting time-tested strategies for business development that can work for any personality — such as claiming a niche, networking for maximum impact, drawing on existing contacts and more, says Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein.

  • Opinion

    3 Ways Justices' Disclosure Defenses Miss The Ethical Point

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    The rule-bound interpretation of financial disclosures preferred by U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas — demonstrated in their respective statements defending their failure to disclose gifts from billionaires — show that they do not understand the ethical aspects of the public's concern, says Jim Moliterno at the Washington and Lee University School of Law.

  • Series

    In A 'Barbie' World: Questions On Kid Brands In Gambling Ads

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    A recent "Barbie" film marketing partnership with a casino raised some eyebrows as the iconic children's toy brand was being used to promote gambling in possible contravention of advertisement regulations for adult activities, but the campaign's particularities signal that the shtick may comport with responsible ad principles after all, says Abbey Block at Ifrah Law.

  • Ch. 11 Ruling Sets New Standard For Using Reinstatement

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    A New York bankruptcy court’s recent ruling in Golden Seahorse, which concluded that Section 365(b)(2)(D) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code only creates a cure exception for nonmonetary defaults, sets a high bar for challenging the requirement to pay default interest as a condition to reinstatement of a loan agreement under a Chapter 11 plan, says Debra Dandeneau at Baker McKenzie.

  • For Tribes, Online Gambling May Soon Be A Safe Bet

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    The Bureau of Indian Affairs' proposed changes to the Indian Gaming Regulation Act would expressly allow tribes to execute compacts with states that enable online gambling and sports betting activities, strengthening tribes' ability to position themselves in the gambling industry despite protests from casino operators, says Blair Will at Hall Estill.

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