Hospitality Law Blog : Hospitality Lawyer & Attorney : Davis Wright Tremaine Law Firm : Hotel & Restaurant Law, Employment Issues

A new scam is targeting Oregon restaurants and bars!

Oregon restaurants and bars should be aware of a new scam targeting them. The scam preys on those who may have inadvertently let their business registration status or license lapse.  The scammer sends threatening letters to these businesses and demands money in exchange for not filing complaints with the OLCC.  The scammer claims the business's failure to keep government paperwork up-to-date threatens its licensing status with the OLCC.

The scammer’s threats are largely empty. In most instances, updating your business information and corporate status with the Oregon Secretary of State and the OLCC are relatively straight forward. It is highly advisable to contact your attorney, the Oregon Secretary of State or the OLCC before responding to any such requests for money.

A business who receives this type of threatening letter is being advised by the Oregon Secretary of State to contact 1) their local police department to file a criminal complaint, 2) the OLCC at 800-452-6522, and 3) the Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division at 503-986-2200, for assistance updating and renewing business registrations.

For more information, visit the Oregon Secretary of State at www.sos.state.or.us/corporation/scam_alert/inactive_business_OLCC_scam.htm.

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OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
Michael Dellar, Lark Creek Restaurant Group (San Francisco)
Tom Douglas, Dahlia Bakery, Dahlia Lounge, Etta’s, Lola, Palace Kitchen, Serious Pie (Seattle)

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT
Delfina (San Francisco)

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Ping (Portland, Ore.)

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL
Stephen R. McCarthy, Clear Creek Distillery (Portland, Ore.)

BEST CHEF: NORTHWEST
Jenn Louis, Lincoln (Portland, Ore.)
Andy Ricker, Pok Pok (Portland, Ore.)

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Chef Marcus Samuelsson is set to open his new restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem, this fall:
www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/fashion/21night.html

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DWT helps bring client California Pizza Kitchen to the University of Southern California:
www.marketwatch.com/story/california-pizza-kitchen-to-open-at-the-university-of-southern-california-2010-02-18?reflink=MW_news_stmp

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Federal law requires all franchisors to update their franchise disclosure document (FDD) within 120 days after their fiscal year end (FYE). Likewise, state registrations must be renewed annually. Since most franchisors have a December 31 FYE, this is “renewal season,” the annual rite of racing the clock to meet updating and filing deadlines to prevent the lights from going out on franchise sales activities. Whether 12/31 or some other date is your company’s FYE, here are 10 stress-reducing tips for getting the job done right.

Click here to view full article

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The second in a series of executive roundtables moderated by Gerry Adams of Clothier and Head and directed at the opportunities and challenges facing hotel owners and operators in the current economic environment was held on February 1, 2010 at the offices of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Seattle.

To view the entire summary, click here. 

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The following is a pithy discussion on investment in the restaurant space: http://www.pehub.com/63260/qa-on-ma-roarks-steve-romaniello-on-restaurant-deals

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Please review PKF Capital's 's U.S. Lodging Industry Overview for 2010 as presented at the American Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS): www.dwthospitalitylaw.com/uploads/file/ALIS 2010 Woodworth FINAL.pdf.  The consensus seems to be this year will remain tough, with real improvement starting in 2011.

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As published in Santé Magazine

My brother, a chef, has been looking to open his own place for a number of years now. He tells me that when he finds the perfect space, he is going to jump on it. If that happens, I’m sure that I will get a call from him asking if I have time to review his lease. He will tell me that it’s the perfect space and that I need to take only a “quick look.” He also will probably tell me that, because he’s taken my advice and set up his business as a limited liability entity, the landlord wants him to sign a personal guaranty. He will want to know what that means and whether he should sign it. Here’s what I’ll tell him: www.dwthospitalitylaw.com/uploads/file/GuestCheck-Benazzi.pdf

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