Retail & Hospitality Liability
Hurwitz Fine P.C.’s Retail & Hospitality Liability Team represents businesses across New York State in the retail, hospitality, restaurant, entertainment, and service sectors. Led by Firm President and Managing Partner Jody E. Briandi, and including Rochester Office Leader Elizabeth K. Ognenovski and Labor & Employment Practice Group Leader Anastasia M. McCarthy, the team draws on lawyers across the firm’s New York offices to provide coordinated counsel in litigation, risk management, and employment matters.
We defend clients in state and federal courts throughout New York State, from routine claims through high exposure litigation. Our experience includes premises liability claims involving slips, trips, falls, snow and ice, unsafe conditions, and alleged negligent maintenance or repair; negligent security, assault, false arrest, detention, and asset protection claims; matters involving displays, fixtures, merchandising, and construction; product-liability claims; food contamination and foodborne illness claims; liquor law and dram shop liability; transportation related claims; and other general liability actions.
Our clients include shopping centers and malls, department stores, big box and specialty retailers, national and regional chains, discount retailers, pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, restaurant suppliers, bars, health clubs, and entertainment and recreational venues. We understand that these businesses operate in fast paced, public facing environments, where a single incident can affect customer and employee safety, business operations, litigation exposure, and reputation.
The team also handles the labor and employment issues that regularly arise in retail and hospitality settings. Under Anastasia McCarthy’s leadership, we advise employers on workplace policies, employee relations, accommodations and leave, discrimination and harassment prevention, wage-and-hour compliance, internal investigations, discipline and termination decisions, and employment litigation and administrative proceedings. This integrated approach allows clients to work with one team that understands both the customer-facing and workforce issues affecting their business.
Our work does not begin when a lawsuit is filed. We partner with clients, carriers, third party administrators, and in-house risk professionals to identify recurring sources of exposure, review accident reporting and investigation practices, preserve evidence, evaluate policies and procedures, and provide practical training for management and employees. Through a continuing series of client webinars and customized training programs, we address emerging liability trends, incident response, claims handling, workplace concerns, and practical steps businesses can take to reduce risk. The firm’s recent retail programming has included webinars focused on negligent security claims, litigation practices in federal court, defending traumatic brain injury claims, and related legal exposure in the retail setting.
When a significant incident occurs, Hurwitz Fine can respond promptly. We work with our clients to investigate the circumstances, preserve key evidence, coordinate with appropriate experts, and develop a defense strategy early. Our goal is to help clients manage the immediate issue while putting them in the strongest possible position if a claim or lawsuit follows.
