Where hospitality disputes usually come from
Hospitality litigation covers a wide range of claims against hotels, restaurants, bars, event spaces, and entertainment venues. Guest injury claims are common, including falls, food illness, and incidents involving security or other patrons. Businesses that serve alcohol can face claims under New York's dram shop law when a visibly intoxicated customer later injures someone. Commercial disputes arise with franchisors, management companies, landlords, and booking partners, often over fees, brand standards, or termination rights. Wage and tip practices draw claims from staff, and accessibility complaints are frequent in New York for both physical spaces and websites. Each type tends to involve a different set of documents and a different insurer.
Records that matter, and how fast they vanish
Security video is often the single most important piece of evidence, and many systems record over themselves within a short period, so preserving footage as soon as you learn of an incident is a priority. Incident reports, staff schedules, point-of-sale records showing what was served and when, cleaning and maintenance logs, and vendor contracts should be kept intact. For contract disputes, gather the full franchise, management, or lease agreement with every amendment and side letter, along with notices exchanged. Payroll and tip records matter in wage claims. When a claim or demand arrives, put a hold on routine deletion and tell managers not to discuss the matter with the claimant or on social media.
Insurance, contracts, and the first decisions
Many hospitality claims are partly or fully covered by insurance, but coverage depends on prompt notice, and some policies exclude liquor liability, employment claims, or assault-related injuries unless separate coverage was bought. Leases and vendor agreements often shift responsibility through indemnity clauses or additional insured provisions, so the question of who should be defending the claim is worth asking early. Franchise and management agreements frequently require arbitration or a particular forum. When a hospitality business first calls, we look at the claim itself, identify which policies and contracts may respond, and flag any deadline for answering a complaint or curing a default. We also discuss whether the business relationship involved is worth preserving, because that affects strategy.
