LexMonitor

A New Meaning to “Eat and Run”? Restaurants and Mobile Payments

Many mobile payment systems tailored for restaurants and other food vendors were introduced in 2011.  Restaurant-industry insiders say 2012 could be a year of widespread adoption of these systems – and possibly a shakeout among them. Set forth below is a brief overview of leading systems, followed...

Legislative Updates | May 2011

Additional News and Events

Click "continue reading" below to read more about: Highlights from TOAST! 2011 Sundance Cinemas to Open New Theater at Houston's Bayou Place San Francisco Business Times Real Estate Deals of the Year Best New Restaurant: San Francisco's LaFitte   Highlights...

New Rules for Paying Tipped Employees

By Jenna Mooney and Kaley Fendall, Davis Wright Tremaine On April 5, 2011, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor published its final amendments to regulations interpreting the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) and the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947. Several of the...

Beware: Payroll Companies May Mishandle Garnishments of Tipped Employees

By Chrys Martin, Davis Wright Tremaine Garnishment is a legal process by which an employer must withhold funds in its possession belonging to an employee and send them to a creditor. However, some direct tips are never in the employer’s possession, and accordingly are not likely subject to...

Between a Tweet and a Hard Place: The Challenges of Social Networking for Hospitality Employers

Jenna Mooney and Nicholas Kampars, Davis Wright Tremaine To say that the use of social networking tools has exploded in the past several years is an understatement. Some studies suggest that of the millions of Americans who use the Internet, nearly half frequent social networking websites such...

Understanding Lease Provisions Key to Managing Tenant Risks in Event of Commercial Foreclosures and Bankruptcies

By John B. Benazzi, Davis Wright Tremaine Anyone in the commercial real estate business can tell you that the past couple of years have seen a significant uptick in the number of commercial foreclosures and owner bankruptcies.  While it does appear that the market is improving, we’re...

How Restaurateurs Should Respond to New Round of Social Security No-Match Letters

By Richard Rawson, Davis Wright Tremaine On April 6, 2011, the Social Security Administration (SSA) resumed sending employers “Social Security no-match letters” advising employers that the Social Security numbers (SSNs) reported for certain employees do not match SSA records. The...

Avoiding Common ABC Violations: Help Your Staff Help You

By Duke Tufty, Davis Wright Tremaine Selling alcohol can be profitable for a restaurant, but the privilege of selling alcohol comes with responsibilities. Irresponsible alcohol service by one of your employees can result in violations, license suspensions, civil penalties, and even license...

Tighter Controls Over Imported Food Under the Food Safety Modernization Act

By David Ernst, Davis Wright Tremaine On Jan. 4, 2011, President Obama signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act, which mandates a number of new responsibilities on food manufacturers and food producers. The safety of imported food was a major consideration for lawmakers in supporting this...