Restaurant: Law Basics

How to avoid legal liability and prevent costly litigation

You're notified that your restaurant is being sued: what should you do? A guest is choking in your restaurant's dining room: are you required to assist? If the assistance causes further injury, who is responsible? Your franchiser demands to see daily receipt totals: can you say no? Restaurant Law Basics prepares you to make the right decisions in these critical situations and hundreds of others.

To avoid costly legal problems in your restaurant, begin with step one: read Restaurant Law Basics. This completely practical, jargon-free guide gives you the tools you need to protect your restaurant from legal exposure of every kind. It prepares restaurant managers to comply with the law and avoid or limit liability in virtually any situation―from hiring and managing employees and dealing with customer complaints to ensuring safety and security, obeying regulatory requirements, and much more. Restaurant Law Basics features:

• Manager's Briefs that focus on critical legal aspects of your operations
• Realistic scenarios that are analyzed to help prepare you to make the right decisions in challenging situations
• Checklists to help you avoid liability before any incident occurs
• A companion Web site that provides additional resources, training assistance, and more

The Restaurant Basics Series provides restaurant owners and managers with expert advice and practical guidance on critical issues in restaurant operation and management. Written by leading authorities in each field, these easy-to-use guides offer instant access to authoritative information on every aspect of the restaurant business and every type of restaurant―independent, chain, or franchise.

STEPHEN BARTH is an attorney and Associate Professor of Hospitality Law and Leadership at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, and the founder of HospitalityLawyer.com.

DAVID K. HAYES is the managing owner of the Harley Hotel in Lansing, Michigan.

JACK D. NINEMEIER is a professor at Michigan State University.